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WILLIAM H GLACE 



Early 
History and Reminiscences 



OF 



CATASAUQU A 



IN 



PENNSYLVANIA 



BY 



WILLIAM H. GLACE 



1914 

SEARLE S DRESSLER CO., INC. 

PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS 

ALLENTOWN, PA. 



C23 QS 



TO THE 

MEMORY OF MY PARENTS 

This Compilation is 

AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED 



PREFACE 



When I Vv'as a boy, my attention was drawn to the 
early history of this community by my parents, my 
grand-parents, and my great-grand-father in narrat- 
ing to me occurrences, incidents and reminiscences 
which related to local affairs on both sides of the Le- 
high River. My mother's great-grand-parents (the 
Mickleys) located in Whitehall township near Egypt 
along Coplay Creek in 1733, and her grand-parents 
(the Swartzes) in the Irish Settlement along Dry 
Run in 1787. My father migrated from Mauch- 
Chunk to Biery's-Port in 1830; I was born on the 
Christian Swartz plantation in 1839 ; and my parents 
established their residence at Catasauqua in 1845 ; and 
here I have been until now, excepting my absence 
from home while serving in the Civil War from 1861 
to 1864. 

I was admitted to the Bar of Lehigh County in 1868, 
and, during a long practice of my profession as an 
attorney-at-law at Catasauqua since that time, ray 
business related almost wholly to the settlement of 
estates and the transmission of title to property 
in the borough and the surrounding townships; 
and, besides being thus identified with local affairs as 
a legal adviser, I was practically concerned for a time 
in the administration of the local government as a 
Justice of the Peace and Chief Burgess. It was in this 
manner that I became thoroughly familiar with all the 



important matters and things of the community, not 
only of a financial and political nature, but of an 
historical nature as well. 

With this knowledge of the early local affairs, quite 
naturally, therefore, when the people of Catasauqua 
determined to celebrate the "Seventy-fifth Anniver- 
sary ' ' of the founding of the town, I united with other 
interested citizens to make the necessary preparations 
for the extraordinary occasion ; and now, as the Chair- 
man of the Historical Committee, I submit this com- 
pilation, limited to the "Early History," as my con- 
tribution towards its proper observance. It will be 
noticed that I confined the compilation to the times 
anterior to the Civil War, excepting several prominent 
matters which I could not well present only partly 
described. 

William H. Glace. 
February 12, 1914. 



CONTENTS 



Page 

Original Title 7 

Irish Settlement 9 

Indian Relics 10 

Weiser Letter 11 

Early Residents 12 

Crane Iron Works 19 

Thomas and Contemporaries 28 

Thomas Letter 40 

Character of Employees 42 

Local Improvements 43 

Oldest Buildings 65 

First Occupations 68 

First Rocker 72 

First Carriage 72 

First Sulphur Matches 72 

Churches 72 

Fairview Cemetery 81 

Soldiers' Monument 83 

First Funeral 87 

Early Schools 89 

Public Libraries 95 

Brass Band 96 

Temperance Societies 96 

Political Animosity 96 

Mexican War 99 

Incorporation of Borough 100 

Banks 107 

Justices of the Peace Ill 

Burgesses 112 

Census 112 



Early History and Reminiscences 

OF THE 

BOROUGH OF CATASAUQUA 



ORIGINAL TITLE— The Borough of Catasauqua 
is situated on a part of 10,000 acres which William 
Penn, the Proprietary of Pennsylvania, devised to his 
daughter Letitia, who afterward married William Au- 
brey, of London, England, and in 1731 they granted 
and conveyed this land to John Page. Some months 
afterward. Page secured a warrant, dated at London, 
Oct. 10, 1731, to take up 2,723 acres of the 10,000 
acres, and in pursuance of this warrant, Nicholas 
Scull, on Oct. 10, 1736, surveyed and set apart the 
same for him. The patent from the Proprietaries to 
Page erected the tract of 2,723 acres into a Manor, 
by the name of ' ' Chawton, ' ' in the following words : — 

"And we do further by these presents and by virtue of the power and 
authorities granted by the Royal Charter to our Father William Penn, 
Esq., by his majesty, Charles the Second, erect said tract into a manor 
and to call it 'Chawton' and so from henceforth we will have it called, 
and reposing trust and confidence in the prudence and ability and 
integrity of the said Page and his loyalty to our sovereign. Lord George 
the Second, do give and grant untn the said John Page, his heirs and 
assigns, full power and authority to erect and constitute with the said 
manor a Court Baron with all things whatsoever which to a Court 
Baron do belong, and to have and to hold view of Frank Pledges, for the 
consideration of the peace and better government of the inhabitants 
within the said Manor by the said John Page, his heirs and assigns, 
or his or their stewards lawfully deputed and generally to do and to 
use all things which to the view of Frank Pledges do belong, or may or 
ought to belong : To be holden of us, our successors, proprietors of 
Pennsylvania, as of the signory of 'Windsor' in free and common 
socage by fealty or in lieu of all other services, yielding and paying 



8 EARLY HISTORY 

therefor yearly unto us, ourselves and successors, one red rose on the 
24th day of June in every year from hereafter in the City of Phila- 
delphia to such person or persons as shall from time to time be ap- 
pointed to receive the same." 

John Page died aged 60 years. He was by profes- 
sion an attorney, and as such acted for William 
Penn's heirs. He also owned another tract of 1,500 
acres, adjoining the 2,723 acre tract. He acted as 
agent for William Penn from 1707 until his decease 
in 1718. The 1,500 acre tract was given for services 
rendered but was not invested with the right of a 
Court-Baron. 

John Page b}^ his will, bearing date July 18, 1741, 
devised all his land and estate in Pennsylvania to 
Evan Patterson, of Old Broad Street, in London, who, 
by Letter of Attorney, dated July 7, 1750, appointed 
William Allen of the city of Philadelphia and William 
Webb of the county of Chester, his true and lawful 
attorneys, to bargain, sell and convey any lands in his 
name. 

There has been some controversy as to whether the 
Manor was called "Chawton" or "Charotin. " It is 
true that in some of the older deeds at Easton Re- 
corder 's office the word is written ' ' Charotin ; ' ' but 
local antiquarians, who have paid some attention to 
this matter, agree that it was written wrongly by some 
scrivener or written illegibly, so that the clerks in the 
Recorder's Office wrote Charotin for what was or 
meant to be ' ' Chawton ; ' ' for it can be seen that if the 
letter "w" were not written plainly it could easily be 
meant for " ro, " thus making it Charotin. 

Among the names of the early settlers and pur- 
chasers of this tract are the following : Thomas Arm- 
strong, Robert Gibson, Robert Clendennin, Joseph 
Wright, John Elliott, Andrew Mann, George Taylor 
and Nathaniel Taylor, all Irish names, showing that 
the town is situated within the bounds of the original 
Irish Settlement. 



IRISH SETTLEMENT 9 

Nathaniel Taylor resided on the Lehigh River, 
north of the town, at "Dry-Run." In his will at 
Easton, he mentions the spring on the Lehigh, south 
of Dry-Run. This tract was purchased in 1787 by 
Christian Swartz of Longs wamp township, in Berks 
county. The writer was born here and is a great 
grand son of said settler. Swartz 's Dam takes its 
name from him. 

It was long supposed that Nathaniel Taylor was 
the father of George Taylor, but later investigations 
go to show that his father never left Ireland. 

The Armstrong tract contained about 330 acres. 
The greater part of this is noAV owned by the de- 
scendants of Jacob Deily. It was previously pur- 
chased in 1767 by George Taylor. 

The Robert Gibson tract contained 1931^ acres and 
included the Paul Faust farm. Part of this land is 
now" owned by the Lackawanna Land Co. 

That portion of the original tract in which the 
greater part of the town was first built appears to 
have passed into the possession of Andrew Hower and 
Marks John Biddle, of Philadelphia, who secured 
possession of 190 acres at a Sheriff's sale in 1795. 
Frederick Biery made his purchase from Biddle in 
1795. Biddle also sold some portions of his land to 
Ziegler, who sold to Biery and Kurtz. 

Hower retained a small amount of the land situated 
at 3rd and Walnut streets until 1823, when he sold it 
to John Peter. 

IRISH SETTLEMENT— Rev. Leslie Irwin stated 
in a letter to David Thomas (in which he requested 
the privilege of preaching in the Old Church of the 
Irish Settlement), that, according to the original 
grant to the Irish settlers, it extended from Siegfried's 
to Koehler's at the locks, one mile below Catasauqua, 
and this was confirmed by Rev. Mr. Clyde in his 



10 EARLY HISTORY 

history of this settlement, and extended in the form of 
a trapezoid beyond Bath. 

A peculiarity of these people was an innate disposi- 
tion to argue, for some of them were educated, and, 
while the Pennsylvania Germans delved and dug, 
they themselves would not toil hard, but would discuss 
the possibilities of the French and English War in 
Canada, and the prospect of a war with the mother 
country. They established a small academy on the 
Monocacy creek which was the fore-runner of the 
Lafayette College at Easton. When the Revolution 
came, they responded patriotically, and their pastor, 
Rev. John Rosburgh, organized a company and fell 
at the Battle of Trenton. Their disinclination to 
manual labor caused them to sell their farms when 
good prices could be obtained, and in almost every 
case, a Pennsylvania German was the purchaser, so 
that by the year 1800 not an Irish owner of land was 
left along the Lehigh river, nor within two or three 
miles of it. 

This disposition asserted itself for years afterward, 
and now there are only a few descendants living in the 
settlement. As they sold their farms they went to 
Central Pennsylvania and the West, where land was 
cheaper. 

Another important factor was their inter-marriage 
amongst themselves (very few marrying out of the 
Colony) and the sterility of the families was a natural 
consequence. 

INDIAN RELICS— Very few relics of the past 
have been found in the vicinity of Catasauqua. When 
the Lehigh Valley R. R. was constructed an Indian 
skull was found on the bluff below the station, sur- 
rounded by boards, pipe and other relics. 

Opposite the mouth of Coplay creek, when the 
Canal was dug, many arrow-heads of flint were 
found, showing that the Indians had made these 



WEISER LETTER 11 

arrow-heads where the spring flowed into the Lehigh 
river. 

Joseph Miller (who lived in the old stone house on 
the road to Hokendau(iua, above the cemetery gates), 
told me shortly before his death in 1866 that he heard 
his grand-father say that there was an Indian bury- 
ing ground on the lowlands and while standing on the 
hills on the opposite side of the river and peering 
through the heavy under-brush and evergreens, he 
saw at different times parties of Indians bury their 
dead at that place. 

WEISER LETTER— I found the following re- 
markable letter amongst my papers relating to local 
history which I have had in my possession since 1858. 
The predicted incursion occurred in 1757, and again 
in 1763. Some of the barbarous cruelties of the 
Indians during the latter were inflicted upon the 
inhabitants of Whitehall township in the vicinity of 
Egypt, several miles northwest of the Irish Settle- 
ment. This malicious attack resulted from the decep- 
tion practiced upon the Indians in the "Walking 
Purchase," conducted by the Provincial Government 
in 1737, when their land was taken under an agree- 
ment, lying between the Delaware and Lehigh rivers, 
and extending from the "fork" at Easton to the Blue 
Mountains. It included the Irish settlement. 

Gentienipn : — I am from good authority informed that the enemy 
Indians have attacked the Frontiers in Northampton county nnd that 
intelligence has been given to an officer of credit by a Friend Indian 
that a considerable body of French and their Indians design again to 
invade the Province and a number are on their way to fall afresh on 
the Minnisinks or parts adjacent. The particular view of the Ohio 
Indians at this time, as it is reasonably supposed, is to obstruct the 
Susquehanna Indians in their treaty with the English and to prevent 
thereby a well-established peace between them. 

How the forces, within the battalion I have the honour to com- 
mand, may be disposed of, upon the expected incursion of the 
savages and the French who prompt them with a cruelty equal to that 
of the barbarians, I cannot say ; but you may depend on it that I 



12 EARLY HISTORY 

sh- 11 ever endeavor to serve the country l)y doine; all in my power to 
succour every distressed part as soon as possible. 

But, gentlemen, you must knovi' that the number of forts which are 
on the east side of the Susquehanna will require a very large part of 
the First Battalion to garrison them and to allow of scouting parties to 
watch the motions of the barbarians. It will therefore be necessary 
that the inhabitants should do all in their power to defend themselves 
and neighbors against an enemy whom we know by e.xperience to 
strike great terror wherever they commit their ravages. 

I recommend it to you to persuade your neighbors to associate them 
selves immediately into companies under discreet officers of their own 
choice, that we may be able to preserve our own and the lives of our 
tender wives and children. Great must be the advantage we shall give 
the enemy if we are tinprepared upon their sudden invasion. 

It needs, not much reflection upon what happened about 16 months 
ago to bring to your minds the amazement and confusion with which 
the spirits of our people were effected upon a sudden incursion of 
Indians of whose numbers we were never well informed. It would 
appear as if I had an ill opinion of the disposition of my countrymen 
to suggest any special motives upon this occasion. 

I only pray that Divine Providence may direct you to proper 
measures and then you can not fail of success in an endeavor to 
serve your country. In which service you may depend on my promise 
that you will be ever joined hy 

Your most humble servant, 

CONRAD WEISEK, L. Col. 
ATTEST: WM. PARSONS. 

Reading, April 27th, 1757. 

EARLY RESIDENTS— Prior to the establish- 
ment of the iron-works, this locality, which was known 
as Biery's Port, was settled in about the same degree 
as the surrounding countr}^ the few residents having 
been farmers with one or two exceptions. There 
were only four families owning the ground on which 
the town was originally incorporated, the Bierys, 
Fausts, Peters and Breischs, and of these, one family, 
Fausts, resided beyond the present borough limits. 
The Deilys lived in the old stone house, south of the 
creek, which was ])uilt in 1767 ; and Mr. Kurtz, east 
of town, on a farm. 

The Bierys (Frederick and Henry) had come to 
the locality soon after 1800, and bought the stone mill, 



EARLY RESIDENTS 13 

afterward owned by William Younger, and since 1897 
by Mauser & Cressnian, who then rebuilt it and have 
since carried on the business. Henry Biery soon re- 
moved to New York; but Frederick remained and 
exerted his energy in making many improvements in 
the neighborhood. He carried on what was known as 
Biery 's Ferry, and in 1824 built a chain bridge, which 
was swept away by the high water of 1841. It was 
rebuilt the same year, and in the progress of the work 
Daniel Tombler received injuries from which he died. 
This chain bridge of 1841 was taken down and a 
wooden bridge erected in its place in 1852, which was 
destroyed by the flood of 1862, when the second 
wooden bridge was erected. He built a stone tavern 
(still standing and occupied as a private house) in 
1826, and a stone building of the same material (also 
standing) in 1835 ; also a stone house in 1830, now 
occupied by Frank Mauser. Thus a little cluster oi 
buildings was in existence at the east end of Biery 's 
Bridge. His sons were Daniel, Jonas, Solomon, David 
and William ; and his daughters were the wives of 
N. Snyder, Samuel Koehler and Jacob Buehler. Solo- 
mon inherited his father's energy, and was during his 
Avhole life an active character. He carried on a tavern 
for many years. Jonas was engaged in the lumber 
trade. 

John Peter lived at what is now the corner of 
Bridge and Front streets, and this spot is still marked 
by his old stone barn. He moved to this location in 
1823 from Heidelberg (where he was born in 1799), 
and bought his small farm of Andrew Hower, at first 
occupying a house which had been built by John 
Zoundt, and afterwards erected a stone dwelling. He 
followed weaving for nine years, and was one of the 
first lock-tenders for the Lehigh Coal and Navigation 
Co. In 1851 he moved away and died at Allentown. 

The Faust family had been long settled just north 
of the borough boundary. The first representative 



14 EARLY HISTORY 

of the family here was John Philip Faust. Jonas, his 
son, after his death, about 1831, received his lands, 
and, dying two years later, the farm w^as accepted at 
its appraised value of fifty dollars per acre by his 
son Paul, who lived upon it until his death, in Novem- 
ber, 1883. A portion of his land was divided and sold 
in town lots. 

Paul Faust was born Sept. 30, 1809, and died at the 
homestead in Allen township, immediately outside of 
the limits of the borough of Catasauqua, on Nov. 12, 
1883, aged 74 years, 1 month and 12 days. 

At the time of his birth and early manhood the 
surrounding country was but thinly settled, his near- 
est neighbors on the south being John Peter and 
Frederick Biery. while those on the north were 
Michael Fenstermacher and John Swartz; on the east 
the Kurtzes, and on the opposite side of the river the 
Miller, Mickley, Butz and Biery families. His great- 
grandfather, Henry Faust, purchased the farm (orig- 
inally 1931/^ acres) of Robert Gibson, a Scotch-Irish 
settler, who owned 2,723 acres in Allen township, em- 
bracing all the land from a point near Bridge street 
to Stemton, west of the Howertown road. 

Prior to the Revolution, the lands hereabouts on the 
east side of the west branch of the Delaware (as then 
called) were all owned by Scotch-Irish settlers; south 
of Bridge street to Taylor's land was owned by Jos. 
Wright ; that east of Howertown Road, in Hanover 
township, by Robert Clendennin, while that north of 
Gibson 's large tract being owned by Andrew Mann. 

The immense immigration from the Palatinate at 
the invitation of Penn and his agents in the early part 
of the 18th Century, as well as the large number of 
Hessians who settled lower down the river after the 
battle of Trenton, began to crowd out the Irish settlers 
even at that early day, until now there remains but 
few of the broad acres of Northampton county in the 
possession of their descendants. 



EARLY RESIDENTS 15 

Their large farms were cut up in smaller tracts, 
and under the stubborn will, patient plodding, and 
untiring industry, characteristic of the race, trans- 
formed the wilderness and forest into the rich agricul- 
tural lands of to-day. 

Among these early settlers was Henry Faust, born 
in Albany township, Berks county. He was the son 
of one of two brothers, Bastian or John Faust, who 
landed at Philadelphia at an early period of the 
immigration from the Palatinate, and settled in Berks 
county. He died April 14, 1795, and left to survive 
him a widow and eight children. The eldest son, John 
Philip, the grandfather of Paul Faust, accepted the 
land at the appraisement and built the old stone man- 
sion (still in good condition) and purchased a tract 
of five acres which was afterwards sold to Mr. Kratzer, 
and Mr. Kratzer sold to John Peter, who, in addition 
to managing his small farm, carried on the business of 
weaving. In addition, John Philip Faust purchased 
5 acres of land from Yarrick Rockel (now bounded 
by Third, Pine and Walnut streets to Howertown 
Road), while about 11 acres were sold to the Lehigh 
Coal and Navigation Co. to build the dam and canal 
to supersede the floating of arks of coal down the 
river. 

Upon his death, July 12, 1832, he left to survive 
him a widow and four children, the eldest of whom, 
Jonas Faust, accepted the land at the appraisement 
at $55 per acre, being the upper tract, while 
Elizabeth Knauss, his sister, accepted the lower tract 
of 60 acres, and soon after sold to John Peter, who 
thus increased his acres to 75, and all of which, less 
some lots sold, passed into the possession of David 
Thomas about 1850. Jonas Faust died the following 
year and left to survive him a widow and seven 
children, the eldest, Paul Faust, the subject of our 
article, accepted, on Jan. 24, 1834, the land at the ap- 
praisement of $50 per acre. 



16 EARLY HISTORY 

Paul Faust was at this time 24 years of age, and 
took upon himself a burden few, at that time of 
scarcity of money and poor markets, would undertake, 
and a less sturdy man would have despaired of 
retaining the land; for, in addition to the recog- 
nizances entered into to secure his brothers and sisters, 
there were those of his father who had died soon after 
his acceptance of the land, and three dowers, viz. : 
his great-grandmother, Catharine, widow of Henry 
Faust, who lived long on the place in a small house, 
afterwards occupied by Jesse Brown, at the lower 
spring, now the site of F. W. Wint & Co.'s planing- 
mill, and afterwards married a farmer named Huth, 
who died at an advanced age in Moore township, 
near the Blue Mountain; the dower of his grand- 
mother, Barbara, who died Oct. 4, 1842, at the resi- 
dence of her daughter, at the stone mansion still stand- 
ing near the entrance of the bridge across the Lehigh 
from Stemton to Coplay; the dower of his mother, 
who subsequently married Henry Breisch, and is re- 
membered by the earlier residents, who occupied the 
farm of 11 acres and the old stone house at the corner 
of Third and Bridge streets, which was built at an 
early day and owned by a farmer named Gross. 

David Thomas came here in 1839 and he started 
the town of Catasauqua, but it was a half-mile across 
the fields from his farm to the works, with the Peter's 
farm between. There was no road where Front street 
now is; the road led from the dam along the canal 
west of the house, crossed present Front street where 
Chapel street intersects, and was laid out at an early 
day in a direction due east, passing where the chapel 
of the First Presbyterian Church stands, and along 
north side of the Breisch farm-house to the Hower- 
town Road where it intersects with the road to Beth- 
lehem, which passed the farm-house of Henry Kurtz. 

Prior to 1860, Paul Faust had sold a lot to the 
Catholic Church, and a few others south of Chapel 



EARLY RESIDENTS . 17 

street, on Front and Second streets, which helped 
him to pay off some of his liabilities. Lots, however, 
were cheap, and it was not until 1865 that he was fair- 
ly out of debt. The last dower was paid off in 1870 
upon the death of his mother at Allentown, where she 
had removed with her second husband at the time of 
the sale of their land to David Thomas about 1847. 

By the rapid extension of the town northward, at 
the close of the Civil War, Paul Faust sold about 45 
acres, besides the new canal tract, to the Lehigh Coal 
and Navigation Co. for town lots, the greater portion 
lying in Northampton county, and by the time of his 
death, he accumulated considerable wealth, his land, 
prior to the panic of 1873, being valued by good 
judges at $75,000. 

He was the oldest of seven children, the others 
being Joseph (South Whitehall) ; Reuben (Catasau- 
qua) ; David (president Union National Bank of 
Philadelphia) ; William (Allentown) ; Elizabeth Laub 
(Kreidersville) ; and Maria Koch (Allentown). He 
was married Jan. 6, 1835, to Amelia Breinig, born 
Sept. 7, 1816, in Longswamp township, Berks 
county, one of twelve children (having had eight 
sisters and three brothers). She was the daughter of 
George Breinig and Polly Wetzell. He had five chil- 
dren: Amy Borger (Peru, 111.) ; Walter; Jane Koehler 
(Easton) ; M. Alice and Clara B. 

His form was familiar to all the residents. He 
possessed strong physical and mental characteristics, 
which, if fortune had smiled more kindly upon him 
in his earlier years, would have made him a success- 
ful man in any sphere of life. Of more than average 
size, a positive man of strong likes and dislikes, his 
confidence was slow to obtain, but when once gained it 
could not easily be shaken. His nature was too kind 
and easy, however, for a successful financier, and he 
w^as therefore often imposed upon in monetary mat- 
te's by designing, unscrupulous men. He had strong 



18 EARLY HISTORY 

domestic tastes, was retiring in his habits, and his life 
was a singularly pure one. None can say that he was 
ever heard to speak disparagingly of or to his fellow- 
men. 

Henry Breiseh was a stone-mason and lived where 
Dr. Daniel Yoder now lives, and owned 10 acres of 
land surrounding his home. At the time the town 
was laid out, a road extended up the hill from the 
Faust farm-house, past Breiseh 's home, and onward 
to the Howertown Road. The land on the gentle 
slope, where are now the best residences of Catasau- 
qua, was in part tilled and in part rough pasture 
land, in many places overgrown with brush and trees. 
Among the first settlers after the establishment of 
the iron-works were the Williams family, the Fullers, 
James Lackey, Joshua Hunt, Joseph Laubach, Peter 
Laux, Charles G. Schneller and Nathan Fegley. [See 
Thomas and Contemporaries.] 

David Williams, father of Thomas (who was killed 
on the railroad in 1872), David (superintendent of 
the Union Foundry), John (cashier of the Crane Iron 
Co.), and Oliver (president of the Catasau(iua 
Manufacturing Co.) came here in 1840 from Wales, 
and took a contract for moulding with the Crane Iron 
Co. His death occurred in 1845. 

Nathan Fegley came here soon after Mr. Lackey, 
and opened a store. Afterwards he kept a temperance 
hotel, and in addition to his mercantile business 
opened the first lumber and coal-yard in Catasauqua. 
He left in 1854, and his store passed into the posses- 
sion of Weaver, Mickley & Co., a firm which was com- 
posed of Y. Weaver, Edwin IMickley, Samuel Thomas 
and John Thomas. 

In 1847, Joseph Lauliach came here from Allen 
township, adjoining Hanover, and opened a store near 
Biery's Bridge. In 1850 he bought the property, 
where, two years later he started the Eagle House, 
which was the next hotel after that carried on bv the 



CRANE IRON WORKS 19 

Bierys. The Catasauqiia House was built by Jesse 
Knauss about the same time ; the American House by 
Solomon Biery in 1856 ; and the Pennsylvania House 
about 1857. 

Charles G. Schneller started in business in a small 
way on Second street and Mulberry alley in 1848. 
In 1854 he moved to Front street, where he sold stoves 
and hardware for 80 years. He was a native of Beth- 
lehem, and came to Catasauqua from Bucks county. 

Other early merchants were Getz & Gilbert, who 
established themselves in 1854 ; Peter Laubach, wdio 
opened a store shortly afterwards ; and Joseph and J. 
W. Swartz, who ])egan in 1856. 

Morgan Emanuel, a native of Wales, was another 
early resident, who did much towards the development 
of the town. He died April 11, 1884, aged nearly 
80 years. 

CRANE IRON WORKS— The Lehigh Coal and 
Navigation Co. was organized in 1818, and after op- 
erating their coal beds and canal for twenty years, 
in which time they had increased their production and 
transportation of 1,000 tons in 1821 to 224,000 tons 
in 1837, they quite naturally considered the propriety 
of encouraging the establishment of industries along 
the Lehigh river for the consumption of their coal. 
They, therefore, in 1838, offered the valuable water 
privileges of the river from the Hokendauqua Dam to 
the Allentown Dam to any persons who would expend 
$30,000 in the erection of a furnace and run it suc- 
cessfully for three months ]\v the exclusive use of 
anthracite coal. 

This offer led to the organization of the Lehigh 
Crane Iron Co., which included members of the Coal 
and Navigation Co., and, in the Fall of 1838, Erskine 
Hazard (one of the leading spirits of the Iron Com- 
pany), went to Wales for the purpose of securing a 
competent person to come to the United States in their 
interest and superintend the erection of furnaces. 



20 EARLY HISTORY 

He there met George Crane (proprietor of the Crane 
Iron Works at Yniscedwin) who recommended David 
Thomas, an expert employee for 20 years, and they 
called to see him. 

Thomas Agreement — At first, Thomas was re- 
luctant to leave his native land, but, influenced by a 
liberal offer, besides the consideration that his sons 
would have better opportunities in America than they 
could hope for in Wales or Great Britain, he con- 
sented and on the night of the last day in the year 
1838, he entered into an agreement with Mr. Hazard, 
which was as follows (including a supplement made 
afterwards at Philadelphia) : 

Memorandum of Agreement made the thirty-first day of December, 
1838, between Erskine Hazard for the Lehigh Crane Iron Company 
of the one part and David Thomas of Castle Dhu of the other part. 

1. The said Thomas agrees to remove with his family to the works 
to be established by the said company on or near the river Lehigh and 
there to undertake the erection of a blast furnace for the smelting of 
iron with anthracite coal and the working of the said furnace as fur- 
nace manager, also to give his assistance in finding mines of iron ore, 
fire clay, and other materials suitable for carrying on iron works, and 
generally to give his best knowledge and services to the said company 
in the prosecution of the iron business in such manner as will best pro- 
mote their interests for the term of five years from the time of his ar- 
rival in America, provided the experiment of smelting iron with antlira- 
cite coal should be successful there. 

2. The said Hazard for the said company agrees to pay the expenses 
of the said Thomas and his family from his present residence to the 
works above mentioned on the Lehigh and there to furnish him with 
a house and coal for fuel — also to pay him a salary at the rate of Two 
hundred pounds sterling a year from the time of his stipend ceasing in 
his present employment until the first furnace on the Lehigh is got into 
blast with anthracite coal and making good iron and after that at the 
rate of two hundred and fifty pounds sterling a year until a second fur- 
nace is put into operation successfully wlien fifty pounds sterling shall 
be added to his annual salary and so fifty pounds sterling per annum 
additional for each additional furnace which may be i)ut into operation 
under his management. 

3. It is mutually agreed between the parties that, should the said 
Thomas fail of putting a furnace into successful operation with anthra- 
cite coal then, in that case, the present agreement shall be void and the 
said company shall then pay the said Thomas a sum equivalent to the 



CRANE IRON WORKS 21 

expense of removing himself and family from the Lehigh to their pres- 
ent residence. 

4. In settling the salary four shillings and six pence sterling are to 
be estimated as equal to one dollar. 

In witness whereof the said parties have interchangeably set their 
hands and seals the date above written. 

Erskine Hazard [seal] 
for Lehigh Crane Iron Company 

Witness: David Thomas [seal] 

Alexander Hazard. 

It is further mutually agreed between the Lehigh Crane Iron Com- 
pany and David Thomas, the parties to the above written agreement, that 
the amount of the said Thomas salary per annum shall be ascertained by 
taking the United States Mint price or value of the English Sovereign 
as the value of the pound sterling, instead of estimating it by the 
value of the dollar as mentioned in the 4th article and that the otlier 
remaining articles in the above written memorandum of agreement 
executed by Erskine Hazard for the Lehigh Crane Iron Company and 
David Thomas be hereby ratified and confirmed as they now stand 
written. 

In witness whereof the President and Secretary of the Lehigh 
Crane Iron Company by order of the Board of Managers and the said 
David Thomas have hereunto set their hands and seals at Philadelphia 
the second day of July, 1839. 

David Thomas [seal] 

In presence of 

Timothy Abbott. 

It should be mentioned in this connection that Solo- 
mon W. Roberts went to Cardiff, Wales, in 1836, as 
an inspector of rails which were ordered by the Phila- 
delphia and Reading R. R. Co. and other railroad 
companies. He visited the Crane Iron Works in May, 
1837, and then informed his uncle, Josiah White, of 
the successful use of anthracite coal in the manufac- 
ture of iron there. He returned in November, bring- 
ing the details of Crane's plans and specifications il- 
lustrative of the process. He was asked to take up 
the manufacture, but declined and recommended that 
one of Crane's associates be employed. In accordance 
with his recommendation, Erskine Hazard, of the Le- 
high Coal and Navigation Co., went to Wales in 
November, 1838, and Hazard secured the services of 
David Thomas. 



22 EARLY HISTORY 

In the Spring of 1839, Samuel Glace, while inspect- 
ing the canal along Biery 's-Port, noticed a number of 
men standing on the east side of the canal, which led 
him to think that there might be a leak in its bed, 
and so he asked the lock-tender, Jonathan Snyder, 
who they were. He then recognized Owen Rice and 
Frederick Biery, and they introduced him to the 
strangers as gentlemen from Philadelphia. Shortly 
afterwards, he received orders from Mauch Chunk, to 
ascertain if there were any quick-sands along the 
canal at Biery 's-Port. And these were the men who 
selected the site for the furnace where the first iron 
was made in America with the use of anthracite coal, 
which proved a commercial success. 

The organization of the Lehigh Crane Iron Co., 
prior to Mr. Hazard's going abroad, had been only 
an informal one, and on the 10th of January, 1839, 
it was perfected at the first meeting of the board of 
directors. The board consisted of Robert Earp, 
Josiah White, Erskine Hazard, Thomas Earp, George 
Earp, John McAllister, Jr., and Nathan Trotter, and 
organized by electing Earp as president and treasurer, 
and McAllister as secretary. 

In April they entered into articles of association, 
which are here appended, as aifording some idea of the 
foundation on which this great company arose and 
flourished : 

Articles of Association of the Lehigh Crane Iron Company, made 
and entered into under and pursuant to an Act of the Legislature 
of Pennsylvania entitled an act to encourage the manufacture of 
Iron, with Coke, or Mineral Coal, and for other purposes passed 
June the sixteenth, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-six. 

Witness, that the subscribers, citizens of Pennsylvania, whoso names 
arc hereto affixed have associated themselves, under and pursuant to the 
act aforesaid for the purpose of making and manufacturing Iron, from 
the raw material with Coke or mineral Coal, and do certify and declare 
the articles and conditions of their association to be as follows: 

Article 1. — The name, style or title of the Company, shall be 
Lehigh Crane Iron Company. 



CRANE IRON WORKS 23 

Article 2.— The lands to be purchased by the Company shall be 
in Northampton, or Lehigh county, or both. 

ARTICLE 3. — The capital stock of the company shall consist of One 
hundred thousand dollars divided into two thousand shares of fifty dol- 
lars each, the whole of which has been subscribed for by the subscribers 
hereto in the number of shares set opposite to their respective names. 

Article 4.— The sum of twenty-five thousand dollars being the one- 
fourth per cent, of the whole capital stock, subscribed for, has been 

actually paid in. , , j v 

Article 5. — The remaining installments on the stock, already sub- 
scribed for shall be called in in such sums, and at such times and with 
such forfeiture for nonpayment thereof as the Board of Directors may 

prescribe. 

Article 6.— The Board of Directors shall consist of such a number 
of persons as the stockholders may from time to time prescribe. 

Article 7.— This company shall be in all things subject to and 
governed by the provisions of the Act of Assembly, under which it is 
created and shall have the same, and no other, or greater powers, privi- 
leges and franchises than are conferred upon it by virtue of the said 

act. 

Robert Earp. George Earp. 

Josiah White. Joh" McAllister, .Ir. 

Erskine Hazard. Theodore Mitchell. 

Thomas Earp. Nathan Trotter. 
Philadelphia, April 23, 1839. 

TiiOMVS Emigrates to Penna.— Mr. Thomas sailed 
from Liverpool in May, 1839, on the "Roscius," which 
made the unprecedented run of twenty-three days, and 
reached New York June 5th. He brought with hnn his 
whole family, including wife and children. Before 
leaving England he had had the blowing machinery 
and castings for the hot-blast made, and all were 
shipped except the two cylinders, which were too large 
for the hatches of the ship. So when the other ma- 
chinery arrived the projectors of the works were as 
badly off as if none had been sent. 

There was not at that time a foundry in the United 
States large enough to cast such cylinders as were 
needed. There were small ones at AUentown and 
Bethlehem. The company applied to the Allaire 
Works of New York and the Alger of Boston, but 
neither of them could bore a five-foot cylinder without 



24 EARLY HISTORY 

enlarging their works, which they were unwilling to 
do. Mr. Thomas then went to Philadelphia to the 
Southwark Foundry of S. V. Merrick and J. H. 
Towne, who enlarged their boring machinery and 
made the five-foot cylinders required. 

Fire-brick were imported from Wales, there then 
being none manufactured in this country, and in 
August, 1839, ground was broken at Craneville (now 
Catasauqua) for the first furnace. 

First Furnace Started— After many difficulties 
and discouragements, the furnace was finally blown in 
at five o'clock July 3, 1840. The ore was two-thirds 
hematite to one-third New Jersey magnetic. It was 
blown with two-and-a-half-inch nozzles, and the blast 
heat was six hundred degrees. 

The first run of iron was made the 4th of July, 
and proved a great success. From this time on, the 
manufacture of iron by anthracite was successfully 
conducted at the Crane Works, and continuously ex- 
cept for the slight cessations common to all manufac- 
turing establishments. 

Furnace No. 1, in which the success of the new dis- 
covery was first fully demonstrated in this country, 
was forty-two feet in height, with twelve feet bosh. 
It was operaed by a breast-wheel twelve feet in di- 
ameter and twenty-four feet long, geared by segments 
on its circumference to a spur-wheel on a double 
crank, driving two blowing cylinders, five feet in di- 
ameter, with a six-foot stroke, worked by l)eams on a 
gallows-frame. The motive power was the water of 
the canal, the difference between the upper and 
lower levels of lock No. 36. The furnace remained 
in blast until its fires were quenched by the rising 
waters of the flood of January, 1841, a period of six 
months, during which time 1,088 tons of pig iron were 
produced. The largest output for one week was 
52 tons. 



CRANE IRON WORKS 25 

The furnace was blown in again after the freshet, 
May 18, 1841, and continued in blast until Aug. 6, 
1842, producing in this time 3,316 tons of pig-iron. 

Mr. Thomas had been looked upon as a visionary 
and the remark was made by a leading charcoal 
iron-master that he would eat all the iron Mr. Thomas 
made with anthracite coal ; but he didn 't accept an 
invitation from Mr. Thomas to take a hearty dinner 
on merchantable pig-iron which was cooked in the 
Company's first furnace, and ready for him whenever 
he was prepared to eat it. 

Other Furnaces Erected — This successful opera- 
tion of their first furnace led the Company to increase 
their facilities, and they put up one furnace after an- 
other to supply the increasing demands of their trade, 
until they had six in operation, as follows: 

1842 Furnace No. 2, 45 ft. high; 14 ft. bosh. 

1846 Furnace No. 3, 50 ft. high; 18 ft. bcsh. 

1849 Furnace No. 4, 50 ft. high; 18 ft. bosh. 

1849 Furnace No. 5, 50 ft. high: 18 ft. bosh. 

1868 Furnace No. 6, 60 ft. high; 17 ft. bosh. 

The first load of iron-ore was brought to the Works 
on April 30, 1840, by Henry Hoch; and this was 
hematite from the mine of Jacob Rice in Hanover 
township, Lehigh county. One was also brought dur- 
ing the first year from the mine of Nathan Whitely, 
near Breiningsville, in Upper Macungie township ; 
and from the mine of John Kratzer, in South White- 
hall township. In 1842, the celebrated Goetz bed was 
opened in Hanover township, Northampton county, 
and the first ore was taken to the Crane furnace. 

The first magnetic ore was brought in 1840 from 
the Mount Hope mine in Morris county, N. J. 

In the erection of the furnaces no machinery was 
used. Trees were cut down and set up as poles to 
which ropes and chains were fastened and these held 
scantling in place at intervals; planks were laid as a 



26 EARLY HISTORY 

floor on this scantling and on this floor heavy stones 
were carried or pulled up to the masons on small two- 
wheeled carts with long handles. 

A large lilowing-engine was afterward erected, be- 
cause the water-wheels were not powerful enough to 
furnish blast for all the furnaces, even though a small 
engine had been erected at an earlier date. This ne- 
cessitated more room, and Bridge street (which ran in 
a direct line to the Canal) had to be vacated and 
located as at present. 

Canal Bridge Moved. — The next question was how 
to remove the canal bridge to the new location, and 
Samuel Glace, an experienced superintendent on the 
canal, solved it. He waited until the boating season 
was over; then he placed two empty boats under the 
bridge and drew the water from the canal, which 
put the boats on the ground; then he placed long 
blocks on the boats and covered them with planks ; 
then the water was let into the canal, which raised 
the boats and put the bridge up in the air ; and 
then the bridge was easily drawn to its new position. 

Public Interest — The manufacture of iron was 
(juite a curiosity and down to the Civil War, for a per- 
iod of 20 years, the Works were visited by many peo- 
ple of prominence. I remember Sir Morton Peto, 
Simon Cameron, Horace Greeley and Dom Pedro 
(Emperor of Brazil). The bridge house was at times 
crowded with people, and it became a custom of the 
villagers to come to the evening cast. 

The girls at the Female Seminary of Bethlehem 
came here during the Summer in relays and some 
boys were detailed to escort them who took special 
care to lead them by the water-house, past the hori- 
zontal c.ylinders, which had two enormous doors or 
flaps, and these upon every revolution of the ponder- 
ous cog-wheels (driven by the water wheels) opened 



CRANE IRON WORKS 27 

with a fearful noise, which caused the maidens to 
shriek and jump away, to the great amusement of 
their escorts. 

The teams which brought iron ore from the mines 
were sometimes more than two miles in length, reach- 
ing from the Crane Iron Co. scales out to Eberhard's 
Quarry on the Mickley Road. The roads in the 
county were made fretjuently impassable to the far- 
mers and this reconciled them to the proposed C. & 
F. R. R. The magnetic ore was brought from New 
Jersey in loads and hoisted on an inclined plane by 
horse-power and then piled up in front of the furnaces 
60 feet high. 

The coal was piled up on the site of the new canal, 
opposite the Bryden Horse Shoe Works, in immense 
quantities. It was brought by boats, and in the Winter 
season placed on barrows which were then taken on 
huge scows to the furnaces, ready for use. This was 
done night and day during the entire Winter. On 
one of the midnight trips, Hugh Dougherty (a 
brother-in-law of the late Johnston Kelly) was missing, 
and found drowned. This was the first Catholic 
funeral in town. The interment was made at Easton. 

Immense quantities of coal were also hoisted by 
buckets and piled in great heaps on the site of No. 6 
Furnace (which was torn down in February, 1914.) 
The opening of the L. V. R. R. and of the C. & F. R. R. 
changed this and many costly improvements had to be 
made to meet these new conditions. 

The six furnaces operated by the company for many 
years have been reduced to two. The men employed 
vary from 300 to 500. 

The company erected numerous small two-story 
brick and frame dwellings in the First Ward of the 
borough for the convenience of its workmen, number- 
ing altogether 95, put up at the same time as the fur- 
nace. It has also 5 dwellings in the 2nd Ward, 3 in 
the 3rd, and 1 in the 4th ; total assessed, 104. 



28 EARLY HISTORY 

The company made an assignment in 1893 ; a re- 
organization was effected under the name of the Crane 
Iron Works, and passed under the control of the Em- 
pire Steel and Iron Co. 

The main office of this enterprise was at Philadel- 
phia from 1839 to 1895, then it was transferred to 
the Front street office at Catasauqua where it con- 
tinued until 1908, when it was removed to the Empire 
Steel and Iron Co. building on Bridge street. 

Iron Curiosities — At the laboratory of the Crane 
Iron Co. there are two interesting curiosities on the 
side of the building which look like the mouths of 
two projecting cannon. They were placed there as 
mementos in 1907. They are abandoned tuyeres, 
which had been in the furnaces, through which the 
hot-blast was forced. The one next to the pavement 
Avas in the first furnace, erected in 1840. 

THOMAS AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES— The 

following biographical sketches have been included in 
this narrative to show the character of the founder of 
Catasauqua and his contemporaries. 

David Thomas was born Nov. 3, 1794, in the coun- 
ty of Glamorgan, South Wales. He was an only son 
and his parents gave him the best education which 
their means would allow, but this was confined to the 
rudimentary elements. He was very studious by 
nature and took much delight in the acquisition of 
knowledge. Not satisfied with working on a farm, he 
secured employment in iron works when 17 years of 
age and continued there 5 years, in which time he 
showed great aptitude for business. His progress was 
so great and his accomplishments as an iron-worker 
were so highly appreciated that he was selected in 
1817 as the general superintendent of the blast fur- 
naces connected with the Yniscedwyn Iron Works in 
the Swansea Valley, and also of its iron-ore and coal 
mines; and he filled this position for upwards of 20 



THOMAS AND CONTEMPORARIES 29 

years. During this time, he experimented success- 
fully with the use of anthracite coal as a smelting 
fuel, and ultimately produced anthracite iron by the 
introduction of a hot blast into the furnace. 

While he was developing his experience in the suc- 
cessful manufacture of anthracite iron at this estab- 
lishment in Wales, enterprising capitalists connected 
with the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company in 
Pennsylvania were considering means to develop their 
business in the Lehigh Valley, and in this behalf they 
offered valuable water privileges along the river to 
an}^ persons who should lay out $30,000 in erecting a 
furnace and run it successfully for three months by 
the exclusive use of anthracite coal for fuel. 

Selected Manager — This great inducernent led these 
capitalists to organize an iron company, which they 
named after the active proprietor of the works in 
Wales where Thomas was employed, and they dele- 
gated one of their associates, Erskine Hazard, to visit 
that establishment and secure a competent man to 
superintend the erection of such a furnace as was 
contemplated; and this resulted in employing Mr. 
Thomas. The Company selected Biery's-Port along 
the Canal, three miles above Allentown (afterwards 
named Catasauqua) as the locality for their great un- 
dertaking, and in one year after his arrival, Mr. 
Thomas demonstrated the practicability of producing 
iron successfully as a commercial commodity by th^ 
sole use of anthracite coal. 

Since then Mr. Thomas has become recognized as 
the pioneer in this particular line of business in Am- 
erica, which directed much long-continued public at- 
tention to this locality. Quite naturally his accom- 
plishment and its beneficient results to the community 
will be made a significant feature in the celebration of 
the 75th Anniversary of Catasauqua in the year 1914. 
Therefore, the manner of his first arrival is worthy 
of emphasis in this sketch. 



30 EARLY HISTORY 

Visits Biery's-Port — In pursuance of his agreement 
with the Lehigh Crane Iron Co., Mr. Thomas came 
to Pennsylvania, reaching Allentown with his family 
on July 9, 1839. Two days afterward, accompanied 
by his son Samuel (then a lad twelve years of age) he 
walked to Biery's-Port to see where it was proposed 
to erect the new furnace. When he reached the top 
of Frederick's Hill (now called Packer's Hill), he 
stopped "to view the landscape o'er." In the dis- 
tance he saw the Blue Mountains whose blue outline 
extended along the horizon with its great ridge broken 
by prominent gaps in several places. 

The residence of George Frederick was at the foot 
of the hill where he lived with a number of stalwart 
sons in a two-story stone house, erected in 1757, and 
a few hundred feet north of it, near the entrance to 
Biery's Bridge (which crossed the Lehigh river) were 
the house and red barn of William Miller ; while just 
across the river from Frederick's was the residence 
of Jacob Deily, formerly the home of George Taylor, 
a signer of the Declaration of Independence ; and at 
the far end of the bridge was the hamlet of Biery's- 
Port, where two farm houses on a large plain seemed 
to be the only habitations directly north, and woods 
extended as far as the eye could reach to the right. 

Startling Noise — While the prospecting Welshman 
and his son stood there, a loud noise from the vicinity 
of the hamlet startled them. Little Samuel, while in 
the great city of London, on the way to their new home 
beyond the sea, with the foresight which was charac- 
teristic of him in later years, had provided for such 
a supposed emergency by purchasing a gun, but, alas, 
at that moment of apparent peril, he recalled that it 
was among the family effects somewhere in a canal- 
boat on the Morris Canal, slowly moving towards this 
point and not just then availal)le. After discovering 
the cause of this explosion, they decided to venture 
forward and soon reached the bridge which they 



THOMAS AND CONTEMPORARIES 31 

found to be constructed of chains, anchored at both 
ends and in the centre to heavy stone piers. They 
each paid a big copper penny to the toll gatherer 
(Daniel Tombler, ancestor of the Tombler family of 
this community), and, proceeding farther across the 
canal bridge, reached the hamlet which consisted of a 
grist-mill, saw-mill, fulling-mill, and several dwelling 
houses. 

The middle stone building (which is still standing) 
was the hotel of the place, and Frederick Biery, the 
village nabob, sat there on a bench. Mr. Thomas en- 
tered into a colloquy with him and soon learned from 
him wiiere the proposed furnace was to be erected. 
Hardly had he gotten this iu formation, when, sudden- 
ly, that terrifying report again broke the prevailing 
quiet of the village, and turnig around quickly the 
agitated pedestrians in wonderment learned that it 
was caused by an upright saw in yonder mill, ripping 
into slabs, by means of water-power, a large log on 
the skids. Thence they walked to the site of the pro- 
posed new enterprise, and after inspecting the place 
they returned afoot, late in the afternoon, to their 
hotel at Allentown, Haberacker's, now the Hamilton. 
A house was then rented for Mr. Thomas and his family 
(the site now of the Prince Furniture Co.) and there 
they made their home until the two-story frame dwell- 
ing at Biery 's-Port was completed for them by the 
Crane Iron Co. 

Difficulties Surmounted — It was late in the 
"Thirties" that the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co. 
(which owned the great anthracite coal fields near 
Mauch Chunk) realized that they had no ade(|uate 
market for their products. Locomotives were few in 
number and largely wood-burning. The entire num- 
ber of stationary engines running in eastern Pennsyl- 
vania probably did not exceed twenty-five. A few 
spasmodic attempts had been made to smelt iron ore 
with the use of anthracite coal, but the success was 



32 EARLY HISTORY 

indifferent. The hour brought the man as heretofore, 
and Neilson's great idea of hot-blast having already 
been successfully applied to the smelting of iron ore 
with a similar coal in South Wales, it was at once de- 
cided by the Lehigh Company that they would make 
a market for their coal by adopting the process to 
smelt the abundant iron ores not far from the line of 
their canal. To accomplish this they organized the 
Crane Iron Co. with a capital of $100,000 (a sum 
more difficult to raise then than twenty times that 
amount would be to-day) ; and under the superin- 
tendency of Thomas they came to erect their first 
anthracite furnace at Catasauqua. 

One can hardly appreciate the difficulties that daily 
beset the manager; ores and fuels of unknown and 
varying constituents ; no experienced help ; no foun- 
dries or machine shops worthy of the name within 
reach; and weakly constructed blowing-engines which 
were continually breaking down. Hot-blast ovens of 
the crudest tj^pe, capable of heating only 500 to 600 
degrees, were but a small part of this manufacturer's 
difficulties. After their pig-iron had reached market, 
it met customers who had no faith in it and often it 
could only be sold with a guarantee of faultless 
casting. 

With the opening of the Lehigh Valley R. R. in 
1855, a new impetus was given to the iron industry. 
Prior to that time, the furnaces were obliged to de- 
pend upon the canal for coal and for shipments of 
iron ; and it was about this time that Thomas built the 
first of those minimum hot-pressure blowing-engines 
which afterward became the common type and al- 
lowed the use of the New Jersey rich magnetic ores. 

Founder of Town — Mr. Thomas was prominently 
identified with the management and success of the 
Crane Iron Works for many years. He became the 
promoter of the large iron works at Hokendauqua, 



THOMAS AND CONTEMPORARIES 33 

which were named after him. He was interested in 
other enterprises here and elsewhere. He took much 
interest in the political, financial, religious and char- 
ital)le affairs of the town, and therefore he came to be 
commonl}' recognized as its founder. He was par- 
ticularly concerned in the establishment and success 
of the First Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, and 
encouraged temperance and thrift amongst the nu- 
merous workingmen under him. 

Mr. Thomas was married to Elizabeth Hopkins, 
daughter of John Hopkins, of Wales, and they had 
five children: Jane, Gwenny (married to Joshua 
Hunt), Samuel, John and David. He died June 20, 
1882, in the 88th year of his age. His remains were 
deposited in the large Thomas Vault in Fairview 
Cemetery. 

Samuel Glace was born at Reamstown, in Lancas- 
ter county. Pa., on Oct. 12, 1805. He went from 
Conyngham, in Luzerne county, to Mauch Chunk, in 
the Lehigh Valley, in 1826, where he entered the 
employ of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co. In 
1830 he took up his residence in Biery's-Port upon 
receiving the appointment of division superintendent 
of the canal from the "Slate Dam" at Laury's to 
the "Allentown Dam," and he filled this position for 
10 years. Then he became the mining agent of the 
Crane Iron Co., which he served for many years. 

Mr. Glace was the first person to produce hydrau- 
lic cement in the Lehigh Valley at Lehigh Gap, his son 
having prepared a paper on the subject for the His- 
torical Society of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia. He 
was married to Isabella Swartz, of Allen township, 
and they had two children, William H. Glace (At- 
torney-at-law), and Amanda E. (married to Dr. 
Daniel Yoder), both of whom reside at Catasauqua. 
He died January 3, 1892, at the remarkable age of 
86 years, 2 months and 21 days. 



34 EARLY HISTORY 

FuEDEKicK BiERY — I heard my grand-father, John 
Swartz, fanner of Allen township, state that Fred- 
erick Biery first introduced the custom of entertaining 
at funerals in this section of the country. It was at 
the time of the burial of a member of his own family. 
The interment was made at the church in Shoeners- 
ville, and there the announcement was first publicly 
made from the pulpit by the minister that the mourn- 
ers and friends were invited to return to the home of 
Mr. Biery for the refreshment of man and beast. 
There the guests were arranged in roM^s in the yard 
and servants appeared, some with bottles of whiskey 
and glasses, and others with lunch consisting of bread, 
meat, pie, cake and coffee ; and hostlers provided fod- 
der for the horses. Thus was a custom introduced 
which prevailed hereabouts for many years. It be- 
came a necessity because the country was sparsely 
populated, and some of the relatives and friends were 
obliged to start early and travel far if they wished 
to attend a funeral. 

Mr. Biery owned a large tract of land here and the 
site for the Crane Iron Co. furnace was purchased 
from him. He had five sons, Daniel, Jonas, Solomon, 
David and William, and three daughters, Mrs. Nich- 
olas Snyder, Mrs. Samuel Koehler and Mrs. Jacob 
Buehler. Three fine and attractive cut stone two- 
story dwelling houses erected in 1826, 1830 and 1835 
along the main road in the village near the bridge 
which carried his name for nearly seventy years, 
are still standing in a remarkable state of preserva- 
tion. He died in 1845. 

His son Solomon carried on the tavern (erected in 
1826) for many years; and he served as post-master 
of the Catasau(|ua office from 1855 to 1861. In later 
years he was interested in the car-builing firm of 
Frederick & Co., at Fullerton. 

Jonas lived in the farm house, now the residence 



THOMAS AND CONTEMPORARIES 35 

of August Hohl on Race street and Railroad alley, 
and was engaged as a farmer. He owned and sold all 
the land upon which East Catasauqua came to be 
established, now included in the 3rd Ward. The 
quarry along the Catasauqua creek, where the Crane 
Iron Co. obtained all their lime-stone for the furnaces 
for years, netted him more than $40,000 on a royalty; 
of three cents a ton. A large part of the land along 
2nd street, and also along AVood street, was sold 
by him into lots for buildings, though quite a number 
had previously been sold by his father. 

Daniel resided on his farm near Weaversville, 
now owned by Peter Laubach, and there he died ; 
David resided on his farm near Mickley's, and there 
he died; and William, the youngest son, died at 
home at a comparatively early age. 

James W. Fuller figures very prominently as a 
contemporary of David Thomas. His father, Chaun- 
cey Dorrance Fuller, came to Biery's-Port from the 
"Plains," above Wilkes-Barre, soon after the con- 
struction of the Lehigh Canal was started, upon the 
invitation of Abiel Abbott, one of the earliest super- 
intendents of the canal, and was employed by the 
company for a number of years. Subsequently he 
served as one of the Justices of the Peace of the 
borough for ten years, from 1855 to 1865. 

The son, in his early years at Biery's-Port, ran 
boats on the canal, and afterward conducted the canal 
store at the bridge. 

From 1852 to 1856 he was specially employed by 
David Thomas, for the Crane Iron Co., to secure from 
the Legislature of Pennsylvania a charter for a rail- 
road to extend from Catasauqua to Fogelsville and 
Red Lion (near Mertztown in Berks county), for 
the purpose of enabling the Company and also the 
Thomas Iron Co., to bring iron ore from the westerly 
and southerly portions of the county to their large 
works at a reduced expense, and also to discontinue 



36 EARLY HISTORY 

dainagiiig the public roads with their numerous 
heavy teams which had come to be a source of com- 
plaint by the tax-payers. But his efforts developed 
intense opposition which resulted in public meetings 
at Allentown to denounce the attempts of the "Black 
Republicans" towards securing such a charter, be- 
cause, as alleged, it would finally destroy the fine 
farms of the yeomanry in the beautiful and produc- 
tive valley of the Jordan. His skill and perseverance 
brought success, first obtaining a charter for a plank- 
road, and afterward another charter for a railroad. 
In the Spring of 1856, the railroad was commenced, 
and within a year the ore teams were no longer seen 
on the public roads, tearing up the roadway and mak- 
ing it well-nigh impassable as had theretofore been the 
case. Of course, the loud complaints subsided. 

During the Civil War, Mr. Fuller became promi- 
nently identified with the political and military affairs 
of Pennsylvania, and his influence with the Republican 
administration then was generally recognized. 

He was married to Clarissa Miller and his children, 
who lived to mature years, were Orange, James W., 
Jr., Abbott, Clinton H., and Clara (married to Ogden 
E. Frederick.) Two of them survive, Abbott, who 
resides at Philadelphia, and Mrs. Frederick, at Cata- 
sau((ua. He established the Fairview Cemetery in 
1858. He died in 1872. 

John George Kurtz, the grand-father of the late 
Henry Kurtz at Catasauqua, settled in Hanover town- 
ship along the Catasaucjua creek, in 1760, and es- 
tablished a homestead here when the surrounding 
country was a wilderness and the land extending 
thence to Shoenersville was generally known as ' ' Dry- 
lands, " because no water was obtainable in this im^ 
mediate vicinity during the Summer months and the 
farmers' cattle had to be driven to the Lehigh river 
where the creek had its outlet. It is said that after 
Kurtz had erected a cabin he went to Europe to 



THOMAS AND CONTEMPORARIES 37 

fetch his family, but upon his r"eturn with them he 
found the cabin in rnins, having been destroyed by 
the Indians. 

In 1839, the Kurtz plantation came to be divided 
between two of his grand-children, Henry, who took 
the western portion, and George, who took the eastern. 
Their descendants here have become numerous. 

For many years these grand-sons refused to sell 
their land for building lots, and this caused the town 
to develop towards Bethlehem, and the improved sec- 
tion came to be called East-Catasauqua. 

Jonathan Snyder was a native of Shoenersville, 
and had a fair education with a fine handwriting. In 
1839 he became the lock tender at the locks opposite 
the furnace of the Crane Iron Co. Afterwards he 
occupied the toll-house at the Biery Bridge. He col- 
lected all the tolls in this section of the canal. When 
the town was erected into a borough he served as as- 
sessor for some .years. 

Of his immediate family, the only survivors are his 
grand-children, the Williams family, who reside at 
2nd and Bridge streets. 

James Lackey was a native of Reading. He came 
here at an early day in the history of the town and 
carried on the canal-store (where George B. F. Deily 
resides) when David Thomas came here. He occu- 
pied this store several years, then he leased an acre 
of ground north of the furnace between the canal 
and river and erected a store and dwelling which he 
carried on until about 1850. By this time, the busi- 
ness of the Crane Iron Co. had increased so much that 
they were obliged to extend their plant to the north ; 
so they purchased the property and Lackey located 
on Front street, south of Mulberry, where he erected 
another store and dwelling. He conducted a general- 
store business there until 1857, when he was elected to 
the office of prothonotary of Lehigh county and he 



38 EARLY HISTORY 

removed to Allentown. This locality on Front street 
then became the site of the National Bank of Cata- 
sauqna, and is now occupied by the Imperial Hotel. 

Mr. Lackey served as prothonotary from 1857 to 
1863, and as deputy for many years afterward. He 
died in Allentown at an advanced age. He was a 
highly respected man. 

John Leibert lived near "Rohn's," which has 
come to be included in the 3rd Ward. He was a boss- 
carpenter for the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co. for 
a time ; then, upon receiving a similar appointment 
from the Crane Iron Co., he located at Biery's-Port, 
which he served for several years. He died about 
1845. His widow survived him for upwards of 50 
years. His son Owen became prominent as the super- 
intendent of the great industrial establishment of the 
Bethlehem Steel Co. The only descendants still living 
here are a daughter Jane, and a grand-daughter 
Emma (wife of James Morrow, Esq.) 

The day Leibert moved to Biery's-Port (then Crane- 
ville), my father asked him where he was going. He 
answered rather ironically — "Oh, to Craneville, and 
now I suppose my daughters will marry Irishmen." 
The late James Nevins was his son-in-law. 

John Peter was born in 1799 in Heidelberg town- 
ship, Lehigh county, and lived at the corner of Bridge 
and Front streets, at a point between Schneller's 
block and the Lehigh Canal. He moved to this locality 
in 1823 and bought his farm from Andrew Hower, 
heirs of Jno. Philip Faust and others. His first home 
was built by John Youndt. He afterward erected a 
stone dwelling which is now the sta])le of F. W. Wint 
& Co. He followed weaving for nine years. Upon 
the completion of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co. 
canal he became a lock-tender. 

In 1851, he sold the remainder of his farm (not 
heretofore sold into lots) to David Thomas, and moved 
to Bethlehem. After the death of his wife, he made 



THOMAS AND CONTEMPORARIES 39 

his home with his daughter, Mrs. Owen Swartz, at 
Allentown where he died at an advanced age. His 
chiklren were Franklin, Joseph, Susanna and Mer- 
sena. There are still living of his children, Susanna, 
widow of Owen Swartz deceased, and Mersena, who 
was married to David Jones, a brother of Capt. Bill 
Jones. 

In contrast with many of the original inhabitants 
who opposed David Thomas in his projects and ideas, 
owing to politics which raged more violently then 
than now, John Peter could always be relied upon to 
support him. 

George Breinig — The ancestors of George Breinig 
were among the first settlers of Longswamp township, 
in Berks county. His great-grandfather was one of 
the building committee in the erection of the Old 
Lehigh Church near Alburtis in the early part of the 
18th Century. While a young man, he attended the 
Academy at the ' ' Irish Settlement ' ' and on his way to 
and fro he passed the farm which was irrigated by 
the Catasauqua creek and became noted for its fer- 
tility. Upon reaching manhood he purchased this 
farm of 245 as. 76 ps. in Allen township from the Es- 
tate of Peter Beisel, deceased, on April 4, 1831, by 
virtue of a special Act of Assembly, passed Feb. 26, 
1831, and moved upon it in 1832. It is still owned 
by some of his descendants. 

Robert IMcIntyre came here with his teams from 
Mauch Chunk where he had finished a contract soon 
after Mr. Thomas arrived, and he did considerable 
work in digging the race for the water which turned 
the large water-wheel in the furnace. Soon after- 
ward he purchased the farm adjoining Fairview Cem- 
etery and there mined iron-ore which was washed 
where the Lehigh Valley R. R. depot is situated. The 
race for the washery is now used to run the turbine- 
wheel which raises the water for the Lehigh Valley 
R. R. and Catasaucjua and Fogelsville R. R. locomo- 



/.O EARLY HISTORY 

tives. He also purchased the farm on the road to 
Bethlehem, now owned by the Oberly Estate. He 
owned real estate in town, including the properties 
now known as the Eagle Hotel and the Lehigh 
National Bank. He built several sections of the Cata- 
sau<iua and Fogelsville R. R. His principal work, 
however, which gave him much fame, was the con- 
struction of the Aqueduct through which the water 
was conveyed from the Upper Potomac river to Wash- 
ington, D. C. In 1864 he sold his property here and 
removed to his farm near Quincy, 111., where he died 
at an advanced age. 

THOMAS LETTER— The following interesting 
letter was sent by David Thomas to a friend in Wales 
six months after he had settled here : — 

Crane Iron Works, Dec. 11th, 1839. 
Mr. David Bowen, Aberdare, South Wales, England. 

My Dear Friend: — I have taken my pen in hand to write you a few 
lines from this wide western hemisphere. I am in perfect health 
and good spirits and all my family are the same who join me in 
hoping this brief letter will find you and your family also enjoyin? 
good health and happiness. I suffered much on the voyage and after [ 
came here from sickness, which you no doubt have heard; but my 
health and strength have now recovered amazingly, and I am now 
flattered by those who kni^w me before that I look better than I did 
some years ago. 

We have been treated here with iiuicli kindness. My employers 
have done evrything in their power for my comfort; they have 
built me a very good house, with garden and every convenience tliat 
one could wish, and I have reason to believe they are satisfied with 
me. I have under my care about 100 men with proper foremen to 
look after every department; I give the orders and pay them. 

We live in a very fertile country where every sort of grain, vege- 
table and fruit is very abundantly grown. The climate is very healthy; 
and the weather has been hitherto very good. The people are hos- 
pitable and kind, cliietly from German origin. There is much of that 
language spoken licre, which I am learning very fast. The children 
can talk it better than I can. 

Places of worship and .schools arc numerous. Many denominations 
are supported by voluntary contributions; tlie schools by a ta.\, every 
St:ite approi)riating so many thousand dollars for the use of schools, 
""here is one built in my neighborhood where every one can eJucatn 
1:'S diildren for ahiiost notliing, to any branch of science or literature. 



THOMAS LETTER 41 

The government is Democratic, and chiefly in the hands of the most 
numerable part of the community, which in my opinion is the worst 
pvirt of their policy, and the most likely to injure the permanent pro- 
gress of America. Your radicals, with riotous chartists, I think would 
have enough of universal suffrage only for them to witness the abuse 
of that suffrage as applied here. I have seen with regret the riotous 
affair of the chartists at Newport, and I am afraid from the appear- 
ance of the English newspapers that you are going to have more of it. 

The population of this district is not very thin. It is peopled as 
thickly as Carmarthenshire. The towns are six to ten miles from one 
another and some of them have from 3,000 to 12,000 people. Phila- 
delphia is 54 miles and New York is 93 miles, to either of which places 
we can go from here in one day. Traveling here is very expeditious, 
as there are canals and railroads in every direction. The town nearest 
to us is AUentown which is three miles from our works. 

The natural resources of this country are numerous. All sorts of 
minerals are very abundant; provisions are very cheap, in fact, every- 
thing for the use of man is very moderate except woolen cloths, which 
are about double of those bought in England. Calico and cotton 
prints are as cheap here as you can get them there, and cotton goods 
of every sort are very cheap. 

I do not think the cattle in this country are as good as in the old 
country; but horses are equally as good, if not better generally. Pigs are 
very cheap and abundant. Pork is very cheap, selling in the market 
at 9 shillings 1 pence per cwt. and the best bacon fed upon Indian 
corn (which is very plentiful here) for 12 shillings 6 pence per cwt. of 
your currency; best flour is |5.50 per barrel or 550 half pence of your 
currency, weighing 196 pounds. I had a barrel last week which 
makes bread pretty nearly as white as this sheet of paper I am writing 
upon; good black tea 1 shilling 6 pence to 7 shillings 6 pence per 
pound; coffee, best, 15 shillings, V2 pence, but very good for 4 shillings 
V2 pence per pound; loaf sugar is 7 pence, if good season, 6% pence; 
burnt sugar for 3^2 pence to 5 pence per pound of your currency; and 
indeed everything in that way is very cheap. 

The people here only eat three meals a day ; breakfast at 6 in the 
morning, dinner at 12, and supper or tea at 6 in the evening. They 
have plenty of meat on the table for each meal whatever house you go 
into. All classes eat very much alike and about the same times. 

Poverty is rarely known here except among the intemperate or idle. 
Old people, widows and orphans are very well taken care of. Tha 
law of the land is very lenient to the actual poor, but very much other- 
wise to imposters. I have only seen three people begging, two of them 
Irish and one a German. 

Since the time I left, is there any fresh duty? They do not know 
what duty is here, only on goods imported. The farmers in this coun- 
try are usually free-holders. There is not one farmer out of a hundred 
but what lives on his own land, and they are gener.iUy very wealthy. 



42 EARLY HISTORY 

Mamifacturers are increasing very fast here; they are short of hands 
and capital, both increasing very fast. We have liad some very bad 
times this autumn in tlie money market, but it is improving again very 
fast. 

In about three weeks from this time our furnace will have fire in it. 
We are going to build another in the spring. 

John Thomas is here and he is a good boy, very strong and indiis- 
trious. He sends his best regards to his mother. 

Please ac'dress your letter to David Thomas, Crane Iron Works, near 
Allentown, Lehigh Co., Pa. 

I am, my dear old friend, 

Your sincere old friend, 

DAVID THOMAS. 

CHARACTER OF EMPLOYEES— The men em- 
ployed at the furnaces were mostly Irishmen. There 
were some Welshmen and Germans, but as a rule they 
were employed round-about the furnaces. Catholics 
and Protestants were employed in e(iual numbers so 
far as possible. This prevented any combinations and 
strikes among them and preserved the peace of the 
hamlet. The government of the village in its early 
days was fraternal, that is, that part connected with 
the furnaces. 

The temperance movement was strong. There was a 
division called the "George Crane Division" for 
adults and the "Crystal Fount Section" for boys. 
The meeting place was in a hall where the Crane Iron 
Co. stables are now. Every one was expected to join 
the movement and if not, he had to give a reason 
why. The result was one of great influence. The 
adults were led to save their money so that raanj^ 
of them, upon leaving with their families, purchased 
farms in the vicinity of Quincy, 111., and their de- 
scendants are among the substantial citizens of that 
section. Of all the young men who grew to manhood 
under this influence, I never heard of one who filled 
a drunkard's grave. 

A peculiarity of this growing hamlet before 1853 
was its seelusiveness from the neighboring towns and 



LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS 43 

villages. It was mostly inhabited by foreigners who 
naturally brought the habits and customs of their own 
country with them, and had a rather quiet, contented 
life without newspapers to excite or distract their 
minds or locomotives and heavy trains of cars to break 
the stillness of the country air. The Sabbath day was 
honored by them and the ' ' Old Church ' ' in the woods 
on Church street was generally filled by attentive lis- 
teners. The community was made up of young and 
middle aged men, and possessed many promising boys 
and girls who had time and opportunities to develop 
knowledge, as M^ell as health and strength, in this 
region by the side of the Lehigh river. Employment 
in the growing iron works was steady and the men 
remained the same from year to year. 

LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS— The first work done 
in the village in 1839 was the building of a frame 
house opposite the site of the furnaces (now occupied 
by Hungarians), which within six months after com- 
ing to this country, was occupied by Mr. Thomas and 
his family. After he was fairly settled, my father 
visited him and was invited to partake of shell- 
barks (a dish being on the table) which he and his 
wife were cracking between their teeth like squirrels. 

There was built at the same time a row of "shan- 
ties" from Second street to Limestone alley; also 
frame houses from Limestone alley to near Hower- 
town Road, which were surrounded by a front yard, 
with fences neatly whitewashed and the occupants 
were the clerks and bosses at the works. This was the 
"boulevard" of the village. 

A brick row was built on Wood street from Lime- 
stone alley to Howertown Road, and each house was 
generally occupied by four families. Some of their de- 
scendants now living in large houses were born here. 

In 1839 there were few, if any, coal burning stoves. 
Every thrifty tenant had his cord of wood sawed, 
chopped and piled in the cellar. 



44 EARLY HISTORY 

Bake-ovens were erected ; one on AVood Street, the 
other on Church ; and their fires were l)urning from 
Monday morning till Saturday night, for the neigh- 
bors took their turn. The dough was prepared and 
placed in straw baskets; then, by a dexterous move- 
ment, upturned on a wooden tray or shovel, and 
pushed into the ovens, on the burning embers. Oc- 
casionally, some belated house-wife would come and 
beg the privilege of putting only a small pie into the 
oven if there were still room. 

After the water was introduced, several spigots 
were on AVood and Church streets, the only streets in 
the village where the mains were laid. The water 
was taken from the Lehigh river, but then it was free 
from impurities and adulterations. 

Streets — The first streets were opened on the land 
of Frederick Biery, from Race street to Wood, as far 
as his land extended. As the village grew in the cen- 
tre. Second street was opened to Church and made 
crooked so as not to interfere with buildings already 
erected. When it was extended to Middle alley, a 
stop was made at the line of Henry Breisch's land and 
the street was fenced off. Prior to this time. Second 
street had been opened by John Peter from Bridge 
street north, and when Second street was extended 
northward another crook was necessary to make the 
connection. Meanwhile, Bridge street was opened, 
and, in order to make it correspond with Church 
street, it also was made crooked, otherwise the lines 
would have overlapped and the lots would have be- 
come too long. Strange to say, the alleys between 
Church and Bridge streets were run as if these streets 
were at right angles. The consequence was that the 
lots on Bridge street at alleys were sliced off at the 
point of intersection. While this was not considered 
when the lots were cheap, in after years, when parties 
began to measure up and find themselves short from 8 
to 12 inches, law suits arose, bitter feeling was devel- 



LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS 45 

oped and expensive litigation naturally followed. 
Such was the situation on both sides of the street but 
it would not have occurred if the points of intersection 
had been a right angle. 

In 1839, there were four public roads which lay 
within the present boundary of Catasau(iua : 

One extended from the dam along the canal west of the Faust farm 
house, crossing Front street where it is intersected by Chapel street, 
and proceeding due east along the north side of the Breisch farm house 
(near the site of Dr. Daniel Yoder's residence) to the Howertown Road. 

The second from the Biery grist mill due east over the Deily hill by 
the farm house to a point where the road forks in the 3rd Ward toward 
Bethlehem. 

The third from the mill race over the county bridge in the .3rd Ward. 

And the fourth, the Howertown Road which originallj' extended due 
north on the west side of the Biery farm house to a point at Union 
street where it joined the road as it is at present, the last portion 
having been vacated long ago. 

In 1841, Front street was laid out by the Court 
of Quarter Sessions, but it was known for some time 
as Cinder street because the slag from the furnaces 
was hauled on it to make it passable in wet weather. 
It was graded in 1853 by Elias Mertz, surveyor, right 
after the incorporation of the borough, which lowered 
the surface several feet between Union street and 
School alley, and recjuired high stoops before the 
residences, as they are now seen. 

In 1848, Second street was laid out from Race to 
Church, by direction of the Court. 

Building Lots — During the period from 1845 to 
1860, this town grew in population. The Biery lots 
^vere sold on Front and Second streets to Wood and 
John Peter sold his lots on those streets from Bridge 
to the borough line. The balance of the Peter farm 
was sold to David Thomas, and Henry Breisch also 
sold his farm, lying between Second and Third 
streets, from Church to Pine, to David Thomas ; but 
Thomas for years sold very few lots, which eventually 
proved to be a good feature, because it paved the way 



46 EARLY HISTORY 

for many fine residences between Second street and 
Howertown Road and from Bridge street to Walnut. 
Third street was only opened in 1870, twelve years 
prior to his death; and Fourth and Fifth streets 
were opened some years after his death in the settle- 
ment of his estate. The population at this time was 
2,853. 

War was in the air during the close of this period. 
The "Wide Awakes," a Republican Association, pa- 
raded the streets with torches and uniforms and many 
fears were entertained what another year might 
bring forth. 

Bridges — There were two bridges across the river in 
the earlv historv of the town ; and a third was erected 
in 1906! 

Biery Bridge — On March 5, 1824, an Act of Assem- 
bly was passed by the Legislature of Pennsylvania to 
establish and maintain a toll liridge across the Lehigh 
river at Biery 's-Port and in this behalf the following 
Commissioners were appointed to carry its provisions 
into effect by securing subscriptions of stock at $25 
a share, viz. : 

Owen Rice, of Bethlehem. 

Jacob Blumer, of Northampton Borough. 

George Yundt, of South Whitehall. 

Peter Ruch, of North AVhitehall. 

Frederick Biery and John Sterner, of Hanover. 

The response in subscriptions was sufficient to en- 
courage this necessary improvement, and in this be- 
half an election was held on July 24, 1824, for a pres- 
ident, four managers and treasurer of the Company, 
which resulted as follows : 

President — Owon Riee of Bethlplipm. 

Managers — Frederick Biery, Philip Faust, Charles D. Hishnp and 

George Helfridge. 
Treasurer — -Joseph Biery. 

And on the 26th of July, Jacob Blumer was ap- 
pointed secretary of the Board. 

Peter Miller agreed to grant as much land on the 



LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS 47 

western or "Pennsylvania" shore of the river as the 
Board might deem necessary for the consideration of 
$10 and "free passage over the bridge for himself 
and his wife during their natural life-time ; ' ' and 
Frederick Biery agreed to grant sufficient land on the 
eastern or "Jersey" shore in consideration "that he, 
his family and sons, as well as those in his employ, 
should cross free for the term of 20 years. ' ' 

The Board accepted these offers, and decided that 
the bridge should be built with two chains, and the 
passage-way should be 13 feet wide in the clear. 

Peter Rumbel agreed to supply all the lumber at 
the following rates : 

White Oak at $13 per 1,000 feet; Pine at $10; Hemlock at $9; 
ShinsrU's at $7.50; Half-price boards at $5. 

Jacob Blumer, the secretary, was also appointed to 
superintend the construction of the bridge. 
The rates of toll were as follows : — 

For every Coach, Landau, Phaeton, or other pleasure carriage with 
4 wheels; or every sleigh or sled drawn by 4 horses 25 cents 

For carriage with two horses 18% cents 

For every 4-horse wagon loaded 25 cents 

For single horse and rider 6 V4 cents 

For every horse or mule 4 cents 

For every head of horned cattle - cents 

For foot passengers 1 cent 

For all carriages drawn wholly or in part by oxen, two oxen shall be 

estimated as one horse. 
For carriage and 6 horses, 37% cents; 5 horses, 31^4 cents; 3 horses. 
20 cents. 

The practice of granting passage by the year was 
common, the rates paid ranging from $1 to $4.50. 

The shares of stock were regarded as of great value. 
The dividends were declared semi-annually, being 
from 75 cents to $1 per share. 

"When the Crane Iron Works started operations, the 
rate of toll was fixed at $3 for a weight not exceeding 
15,000 tons. 

The great freshet of 1841 swept away the bridge; 
but a similar chain bridge was immediately put up in 
its place. 



48 EARLY HISTORY 

The chains were anchored in stone foundations on 
both sides of the river ; the ends, and the middle where 
the chains rested, Avere topped with a frame cover to 
protect them from the weather; and these tops at a 
distance looked like a fortress. The sides of the bridge 
were open. In the Lehigh Water Gap, there still re- 
mains a chain bridge which resembles the construction 
of the old Biery Bridge. 

About 1850, this bridge was regarded as unsafe be- 
cause it swung to and fro while a team passed over it. 
Therefore, steps were taken to erect another bridge in 
its place and the following Notice was advertised in 
the newspapers and posted in the vicinity for the 
purpose of securing subscriptions of stock: 

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with an Act of Assembly, 
incorporating a company to build a bridge over the river Lehigh under 
the name of "The President, Managers and Company of the Lehigh 
County Bridge at or near Biery's Mills;" books for subscription of 
stock for said purpose will be opened on Monday, the 26th day of July, 
at the public house of Nathan Frederick in Biery'sPort, to be kept open 
for three successive days, for 6 hours encli day: 

Joseph Laubach Peter Troxell 

George Breinig Joshua Miller 

Daniel Newhard David Troxell 

Henry Kurtz. James Gangewere 

David Eberhard Charles S. Bush 

.June 24, 1852. Commissioners. 

The bridge was removed in 1852 and a covered 
wooden bridge was erected in its place with trusses 
in the centre for support, and a double drive-way. 
The total cost was $14,954. It was destroyed by the 
great flood of 1862, but immediately rebuilt in the 
same style. The trusses however were at the ends, 
and there was only one drive-way. The total cost 
was $5,161. Tlie dividends were about 129r per annum. 

This bridge was maintained by the Company until 
1892, when it was purchased by the County author- 
ities ; then a new iron bridge was substituted at the 
joint cost of the County, the Lehigh Valley R. R. Co. 
and the A. & B. Rapid Transit Co., amounting to 



LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS 49 

$19,000, which was paid as follows :— County $10 500 • 
L. V. R. R. Co, $8,000 ; Rapid Transit Co, $500. ' ' 
The trolley line from Allentown to the west end of 
the bridge, and from the east end to Siegfried, was 
built m 1891, and for thirteen months the passengers 
traveling to and fro walked across a temporary struc- 
'ture. 

Crane Iron Co. Bridge— About 1845, the Crane Iron 
Co. felt the necessity of a separate bridge for its use 
because iron ore beds were discovered at different 
places m Whitehall and South Whitehall townships 
and the hauling of the ore around by way of the 
Biery Bridge came to be considered as a serious item 
and they therefore determined to erect a public 
bridge up the river half a mile above the Biery 
Bridge. But they found a statute of Pennsylvania 
m the way which interfered with their project, be- 
cause It was too near the bridge mentioned and the 
Legislature would not grant another charter which 
would disturb vested rights. To avoid this objection 
they purchased land on both sides of the river where 
the bridge was desired, and erected a private bridge 
for themselves. But the traveling public soon dis- 
covered that this bridge could be used free from any 
charges of toll and it came to be used therefore as a 
general highway ; indeed, at times the teams became so 
numerous that they extended in a continuous row 
from the entrance of the Fairview Cemetery across the 
bridge to the Company's office. 

A statute provided that as soon as the Crane Iron 
Co. acquired the majority of the stock of the Biery 
Bridge Co., they could then charge toll for passing 
over their private bridge. 

When the Catasauqua & Fogelsville R. R was 
constructed in 1857, this bridge was strengthened 
so that the company could lay a railroad track on it, 
and haul cars loaded with iron ore over it, drawn by 
a small locomotive, to their works. This engine was 



50 EARLY HISTORY 

named ''Hercules." The bridge was swept away b}' 
the flood of 1862, and a covered wooden bridge was 
immediately erected in its place. Later an iron 
bridge was substituted by the company. 

Pine St. Bridge — In 1906-07, the county authorities 
erected a superior iron bridge across the river, a 
short distance above the Crane Iron Co. Bridge, at 
Pine street, to facilitate inter-communication between 
Catasauciua and West Catasaucjua. This bridge had 
been agitated for many years, but it was realized at 
last. It is now much appreciated for its great utility. 
The abutment at the eastern end was constructed at 
the cost of the borough of Catasauciua, and that at the 
western end by the township of Whitehall. 

Flood of 1862— Catasauqua was the scene of great 
excitement during the flood of June 4-5, 1862, when 
the water rose above its usual level from 24 to 27 
feet, and was about 4^/2 feet higher than the flood of 
1841. All the bridges, with a number of small build- 
ings, great quantities of lumber and fencing materials, 
and many wagons, etc., were carried away. The en- 
gineer of the Crane Iron Co. remained in the engine- 
room and was instrumental in rescuing several per- 
sons from drowning. Many of the boats which were 
here, loaded with ore from New Jersey, were lost 
including the possessions of the boatsmen. A German 
family from Newark (man, wife and two children) 
were on their boat at Parryville when the flood tore 
it loose ; they reached Catasauqua but the boat was 
wrecked below the town, and all they had was their 
clothing on their backs. Another family from Stan- 
hope, N. J., also lost their boat and all their clothing; 
they were knocked off the boat and rescued, excepting 
an infant, fourteen months old, which was drowned. 
When morning dawned, two men were discovered on 
a cinderbank, in the midst of the river; and at an 
other point a man and boy were on a tree. A father 
was on a tree near by, and his screaming daughter 



LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS 51 

on another; and a little girl was seen holding on to a 
ledge at an arch of the Biery Bridge. Frnitless at- 
tempts were made to save these people by a raft at- 
tached to a rope, but the current was too strong; 
finally the superintendent of the Crane Iron Co. 
rescued them by means of a flat-bottom boat, made 
by his carpenters, after struggling heroically for 
more than an hour. 

The scene was awful to behold. While standing on 
the river bank, the roaring torrent could be distinct- 
ly heard, and also the agonizing cries of men, women 
and children, who were carried along on logs, boats, 
etc. Below the town a house was swept from its foun- 
dations and carried down the valley; and at Wheeler's 
locks several houses and barns with household goods, 
animals and other contents were swept away. Words 
cannot describe the loss and suffering. 

Relating to the flood of 1841, mentioned in the be- 
ginning of the foregoing article, the following entry 
was made in the books of the Crane Iron Co., to show 
how it affected the works : — 

"On Thursday, January 7th, at nine o'clock in the evening, the 
river rose so that the back water prevented the wheel from turning, at 
half after ten covering the tow-path of the level above lock 36. At 
twelve it was two feet over the bank.s, and was one foot over the 
bottnin of the heartli of the furnace. At 1.20 the water was at its 
height, and 34 inches in the furnace. It was at its height until 3.30 
o'clock when the river began to fall. The water wheel was muddied 
all over and the water was nine inches over its top. The dam and 
canal bank was broken so that when the water fell in the river it was 
too low to turn the wheel, though every eflfort was made to fill up 
the bank, but they could not succeed and were obliged to throw the 
furnace out on Monday, the 11th of January. 

David Thomas 
Thoma,s S. Young." 
[The furnace was blown in again on May 18, 1841.] 

Canal — The navigation of the Lehigh river was 
agitated for many years, beginning as early as 1771, 
and legislation was enacted relating to it from that 
time till 1820 and afterward. The Lehigh Navigation 



52 EARLY HISTORY 

Co. was incorporated in March, 1818, and in October 
following, the Lehigh Coal Co., and in 1820 the two 
were consolidated into the Lehigh Coal and Naviga- 
tion Co. Then it was that active operations were be- 
gun in the construction of a canal which was to extend 
along the river from White Haven to Easton and they 
were carried on with determination. 

The great enterprise was completed from Easton to 
Mauch Chunk in 1828 and a favorable report of spe- 
cial commissioners to the Governor of Pennsylvania 
was made July 3, 1829. Three men were particularly 
prominent in its advocacy, construction and comple- 
tion, Josiah White, Erskine Hazard and Mr. Hauto. 

In the course of its construction, a lock was placed 
at a point which came to be in front of the furnace at 
Catasauqua; dimensions of 22 feet wide by 95 feet 
long, with a drop of 8 feet from one level to the other. 
The number in the system is 36. The next lock to the 
north is about a mile distant; and the next to the 
south also a mile. 

Grain and coal were ' * floated ' ' down the river to the 
Delaware river, and thence to Philadelphia, on flat- 
bottomed boats called "arks," and these "arks" were 
sold there because they could not be taken back 
against the current. In passing Biery's-Port these 
boats attracted much attention. When the canal came 
to be opened for transportation in 1828 the movement 
of the boats through the locks excited as much public 
interest for a time as the "casting" of iron in the 
furnace in 1840. 

The first excursion to Biery's-Port on the canal was 
made by a party from Allentown and an "ark" Avas 
used to carry the excursionists. The boat was hand- 
somely decorated with American flags for the occasion. 
This occurred on Friday, June 26, 1829. Ogden E. 
Frederick recalls how his mother-in-law, Mrs. James 
W. Fuller, with much spirit narrated the trip many 
years ago. She was amongst the party, having ac- 



LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS 53 

companied hei" parents, then a girl (Clarissa Miller ) 
11 years old. She remembers distinctly the crowded 
condition of the boat and the great pleasure the ex- 
traordinary trip afforded. Two horses pulled the 
boat, and though the movement on the water was slow, 
the sensation was pleasing and the passing scenery 
truly picturesque and inspiring, much beyond what 
she had yet experienced. 

Another occurrence, worthy of mention, was several 
years afterwards when many of this community went 
by boat to Easton to witness the hanging of a man 
named Getter, on a small island in the Delaware 
river. My mother accompanied her parents (Mr. and 
Mrs. John Swartz) who joined other parents (Owen 
Frederick, Frederick Biery, Jacob Deily and John 
Peter) ; and I recall the spirit she displayed in de- 
scribing the incidents of the novel trip to and fro, 
the great crowd on the hill-side at Easton (now the 
site of Lafayette College) which overlooked the awful 
scene of the public execution of a condemned mur- 
derer, the terrifying screams of the multitude that 
broke the awful stillness when the rope snapped as 
the criminal dropped, the startling movement of the 
official witnesses about the scaffold, and the rapid 
horseback ride of the sheriff to the nearest store for a 
new rope and back to the scaffold to resume the per- 
formance of his legal duty and complete the execu- 
tion. The reader of these reminiscences of Catasau- 
qua can well imagine my intense interest as a boy 
in a mother's tale of such an event in its early history. 

Boat-Yards — Along the canal, from 1845 to 1865, 
two boat-yards were carried on for the building and 
repair of boats ; one of them by Bogh Brothers, situa- 
ted on the site of the Fire Brick Works between Wal- 
nut and Chapel streets, and the other by Cinder & 
Rehrig on the site of the lowlands opposite the Cata- 
sauqua Hotel. 



54 EARLY HISTORY 

Railroad — It was in the fall of 1855 that the first 
locomotive, the "General Wall," borrowed from the 
Central R. R. of N. J., with a passenger car attached, 
came to Catasauqua, which was as far as rails had 
been laid. It was a gala day for the new borough, 
only two years old. On this train were citizens from 
Easton including Thomas McKean (then 90 years old) 
and an army office on recruiting service. A dinner 
was had at the Eagle Hotel, while flags wei'e flying 
and bands playing. After dinner a procession was 
formed which marched to Hokendauqua, to view the 
furnace just erected there. 

On the way from Allentown, the train ran slowly, 
stopping now and then to cut down projecting limbs 
of trees which hung over the track. 

David Kline, a painter by trade, was the first 
agent and the first freight he brought over the bridge 
on a wheel-barrow. 

Water Works — When Catasauqua was founded in 
1839 by officials of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation 
Co., the water rights and land west of the canal, from 
the Hokendauqua Dam to the Allentown Dam were 
ceded to the Lehigh Crane Iron Co. as a substantial 
inducement to those capitalists to erect furnaces here 
and develop an increased market for coal and as a 
feeder to the canal project. At that time, the towns 
along the Lehigh river north to the coal mines were 
few, and it never entered into the minds of the in- 
vestors that the stream would become the sewer system 
of numerous populous boroughs and hundreds of coal 
mines. 

When No. 1 furnace was erected, the blast power 
was secured from the canal, the original canal having 
been turned over to the Iron Company for power and 
landing ores and coal, and a new canal having been 
excavated, and used thereafter as the main line. The 
pump to furnish water for furnace use was attached 
to the blast wheel, which remained in use until No. 3 



LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS 55 

furnace was completed in 1844. More extensive water 
facilities for the town were re(juired and then a 4-inch 
main was laid from the pump to Wood street, up 
Wood to Second, up Second to Church, and thence to a 
basin located on that street above Church alley. 

When this was about to be done it would seem 
that David Thomas wrote to his son Samuel then at 
Nazareth (going to school there), to stop off at Beth- 
lehem and take measurements of the pump used there 
to supply water to the inhabitants of that town, as he 
intended to supply water to the company's houses on 
Church and Wood streets. Richard W. Leibert, who 
is still living at Bethlehem, supplied him with the de- 
sired information. Work was then commenced with- 
out a charter and in time the mains were extended, a 
reservoir was built on Church street, and later on rear 
of Walnut ])etween 5th and 6tli streets. A charter was 
subsequently obtained and the company furnished the 
water until its merger with the dear Springs AVater 
Co. 

The leakage from the old company reservoir eventu- 
ally undermined the limestone soil, and necessitated 
its abandonment and a wooden tank was erected. In 
1854, a 4-inch main was laid on Front street, as far as 
Bridge, and in 1856, a 3-inch main was extended up 
Second street, as far as Strawberry alley, to supply 
the new residence of David Thomas. 

This pipe was recently discovered while laying the 
new mains on that street, and it was found almost 
closed with corrosion. The same year the Front street 
main was extended to the new rolling mill, and sub- 
sequently as far as Puddlers' Row, above Chapel. 

By 1872, the demands upon the water supply had 
increased so largely that the company decided to 
make extensive improvements, and spent $25,000. On 
Front street from Wood to Bridge an 8-inch main was 
laid ; Second, Union to Chapel, a 10-inch main ; 4-inch 
main on Union and Chapel streets ; 10-inch main on 



56 EARLY HISTORY 

Bridge, from Front to Second; and 10-inch main on 
Walnut to Fourth, where connections were made with 
a 12-inch main leading to a new stone and concrete 
reservoir on Currant alley, above Walnut, the highest 
ponit m the town. A new pumping station was built 
below No. 6 furnace, 23 by 25 feet in dimensions, with 
water and steam pumps having a capacity of forcing 
18d,000 gallons of water per day. A nearby stand- 
pipe, to equalize the pressure upon the pipes was 
also built. 

The use of the canal water for household purposes 
became objectionable, and some years since an artesian 
well was drilled adjoining the pumping station and 
alternating filters erected to overcome to some degree 
the frequent filthiness of the river water. The com- 
pany requiring more room for storage purposes, a 36- 
mch main was extended on the canal bed, from a point 
facing the canal below the bridge, which carried water 
to the forebay at the machine shop, and pumping sta- 
tion, while another of similar size ran from the fore- 
bay m front of No. 5 furnace and extended to the tur- 
bines opposite No. 1 ; the feeder canal was then aband- 
oned and filled in, giving the companv large storage 
space m front of the furnaces. 

All the toA^Ti gutters and refuse from manufac- 
turing places north of Bridge street drained into the 
canal, the surface of which frequently presented mys- 
terious compositions. 

For many years the revenues of the water system 
were not given close attention, and reverses coming 
to the Crane Iron Co., the receiver made overtures to 
the original owners, and the water and land rights, 
with some reservations, passed from control of the 
company back to the Navigation Companv and also to 
the Clear Springs Water Co., which had secured char- 
ters for all the surrounding country. 

Council then reduced the number of fire hydrants 
to twenty-three, owing to the demands of the new 



LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS 57 

regulations and when in January, 1908, the rates to 
consumers were announced, many discontinued the 
use of the water. The Fire and Water Committee hav- 
ing been directed to make an investigation and report 
cost of establishing a municipal plant, a public meet- 
ing was called in the Town Hall, Thursday, July 23, 
when it was proposed to ask the tax-payers for a loan 
of $80,000 to sink wells, and proceed with the erection 
of a new municipal system. By unanimous direction 
of Council it was submitted to the tax-payers at the 
November election, which resulted in polling 776 votes 
in favor to 74 against. 

Two artesian wells were sunk upon a tract of land, 
designated by a geologist sent by the State Board of 
Health, at Walnut and St. John streets, just east 
of the Catasau(|ua creek. The success of the first well 
demonstrated the wisdom of the designated spot and 
the second well was equally satisfactory. The wells 
are about 200 feet deep, steel cased that depth, and are 
10 inches in diameter. They were both tested by air 
lifts for seven days and nights and the supply of 
water was pronounced inexhaustible, the strata of 
sandstone having been pierced the entire depth. The 
State Board certified that it was perfectly pure; 
and by practical tests at the boilers of the 'plant it 
w^as found free from lime sediments. 

The Water Committee investigated other plants and 
asked experienced engineers to come to Catasauqua, 
view the location and prepare plans for a municipal 
plant. Dr. C. J. Keim was then serving as burgess, 
with Councilmen Henry W. Stolz, Alfred J. Leh and 
Martin Graver from the First Ward, and Thomas 
Jones, Wm. McCandless and Oscar Shugar from the 
Second Ward, all favorable to new municipal water 
works. Detailed plans and specifications were formal- 
ly adopted, and the sale of the water bonds for $80,000 
at 4% was advertised. George H. Hardner, the well- 
known successful contractor of Allentown, became the 



58 EARLY HISTORY 

contractor, and the sale was made, three-fourths of the 
issue having been taken by residents of the borough. 
Work was started in March, 1910, and completed the 
following October. 

Two equity suits were instituted by the Clear 
Springs Water Co. to restrain the Borough from pro- 
ceeding to establish the water works, but the Court 
dismissed both bills, deciding that their vested rights 
were not injured. 

Fumping Station — The pumping station is a brick 
fire-proof building, with concrete foundations and 
floors, structural, steel and slate roof, with ample pro- 
portions for duplicating the present plant. The 
engine and compressor room is 50 feet Made by 60 feet 
long, and boiler room, 50 by 50 feet, with fuel space 
for more than 100 tons. These rooms are well lighted, 
provided with fire-proof partitions and furnished 
throughout in a neat and substantial manner. The 
chimney is constructed of brick lining 5 feet square 
inside and 100 feet high, on concrete foundation. 

In the boiler room there is a battery of two high- 
pressure tubular boilers, of 100 to 125 horse power 
each, set in masonry in the most substantial manner 
and with connections made to pumping machinery. 

In the engine room there are two air compressors of 
the Ingersoll-Rand most improved type, made to oper- 
ate condensing, either or both together, through air 
receiver to air-lift system, with discharge from wells 
into storage reservoir; also the two large Piatt cross 
compound horizontal crank and fly-wheel pumping 
engine, with condenser, of combined daily capacity of 
two million gallons, made to operate, either or l)oth 
together, with suction from storage reservoir and de- 
livery to system of water mains. 

The storage reservoir is 72 feet in diameter and 14 
feet 6 inches deep, having a capacity of 366,000 gal- 
lons ; made of brick concrete and steel construction, 
with roof of cement tiling, and ventilator screened and 



LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS 59 

protected from all impurities, which makes it a most 
fitting receptical for storage of water, direct from the 
wells. The large pumping engines, with suction from 
this reservoir, deliver the water through the system of 
water mains and tower to the people. 

Water Tower — The water tower is located on the 
hill, near Sixth street and Howertown Road, North 
Catasauqua. It is of fine proportions, with steel 
standpipe, 15 feet in diameter and 80 feet high, rest- 
ing on brick sub-structure with stone trimmings, rein- 
forced at the top with heavy eye beams. This sub- 
structure is on octagonal foundation of concrete, 30 
feet in diameter. The standpipe is connected through 
the sub-structure with main and drain pipes and 
valves placed so that the tower may be used with the 
system or not, as may be desired. The reservoir af- 
fords the city a storage of about one-half-million gal- 
lons of water for use in an emergency and as a re- 
serve, additional to the capacity of the plant, should 
there be a serious conflagration. 

The weight of the standpipe and its contents on sub- 
structure and foundation when filled is about 700 
tons. It was erected by the McDermott Co., Allen- 
town. 

Water Mains — The system of water mains, ranging 
from 16 inches to 6 inches in diameter, with but few 
laterals of 4 inch pipe, in all about seven miles, laid in 
the principal streets of the borough. 

There have been located at the street corners thirty- 
five Matthews type hydrants, with 6-inch base con- 
nections and two 214 ii^ch nozzles for hose and one 4 
inch nozzle for steamer to each hydrant. This system 
is divided into 63 districts, any and all of which may 
be shut off as desired. In case of repairs, but one 
square of patrons will be inconvenienced for a short 
time. 

From the pumping station on Walnut street to 
Fifth, a 16-inch artery carries the water; on Currant 



60 EARLY HISTORY 

alley, from Walnut a 12-inch main supplies the stand 
pipe 12-inch main from Fifth to Front on "Walnut ; 8- 
inch pipe on Front to Union, then 6-inch to Race 
then 8-inch to Wahnetah, 4-inch across the canal and 
Central R. R. to the Castings Co. Works, where four 
plugs secure lower rate of insurance ; 6-inch main en- 
tire length of Second ; 10-inch main on Fifth ; 8-inch 
on Howertown Road to Union; 10-inch on Union to 
Front ; 6-inch mains on Third, Fourth, Bridge, Mul- 
berry, Race and American streets ; 4-inch on Pine, 
Kurtz, Church, Peach, Wood ; in all about seven miles 
in length. In case a fire occurs in the lower portion of 
the town, mains on American street, Howerto\^^l Road, 
Second and Front streets furnish a constant flow. 

Thomas Jones is worthy of special mention in the 
establishment of this necessary improvement for the 
public welfare. He came to Catasauqua in 1853 and 
assisted in laying the water pipe in 1854. For many 
years he was employed as a machinist at the Crane 
Iron Works; then he became master mechanic of the 
Catasauqua & Fogelsville R. R. under its superintend- 
ent, John Thomas, which position he held until the 
road was acc(uired by the P. & R. R. Co. He served in 
town council from 1884 to 1889 ; officiated as Burgess 
from 1889 to 1891 ; and again served in the town coun- 
cil since 1908, while this improvement was being es- 
tablished. 

Edmund Randall, the publisher of the Catasauqua 
Dispatch, is equally worthy of mention for his con- 
tinuous and persistent advocacy of this necessary im- 
provement and its ownership by the borough. 

Post Office — For twelve years after this settle- 
ment was started, the hamlet was called " Craneville, " 
after George Crane of Wales who was the ownier of 
Iron Works where David Thomas was employed before 
coming to this country. A post office was established 
in 1844 at the lower part of town which for many 
years was called ' ' Biery 's-Port ; ' ' and upon the ap- 



LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS 61 

pointment of Nathan Fegley as post-master in 1846, it 
was moved up to the corner of Front and Church 
streets. 

Mail came three times a week from Allentown to 
Mauch Chunk by stage, and several times a week from 
Bethlehem to Cherryville by one horse conveyance. 
But letters for this place were frequently sent to 
Craneville, N. J., a small town 20 miles from New 
York City on this Easton stage route, which caused a 
delay of some days in the delivery of letters. The 
Crane Iron Co. received their mail from Allentown by 
private carrier which helped somewhat. A change 
was agitated as early as 1845, but owing to the domi- 
nant party represented by the old inhabitants at the 
lower end of town, they prevented the P. 0. Depart- 
ment from adopting various names proposed. Owen 
Rice was at tljat time chief clerk at this iron works 
(who, for many years, had been the scrivener of deeds 
for the country hereabouts) and learning from old 
drafts made in 1735 and later that the creek flowing 
through the east end of the village was named ' ' Cata- 
sauqua" (Cattosoque) he suggested the name and it 
was adopted by the department in 1846. 

The following persons filled the position of post- 
master : 

POST MASTERS 
Samuel Colver, 1844-46 
Nathan Fegley 1846-50 Isabella D. Duff 1865-71 

Joseph Laubach 1850-53 Adaline Creveling 1871-77 

Nathan Frederick 1853-54 Wm. H. Bartholomew 1877-89 

Augustus H. Gilbert 1854-55 Edmund Randall 1889-94 

Solomon Biery 1855-61 .Tonas F. Meyer 1894-98 

Arnold C. Lewis March-Nov. 1861 Henry Davis 1898-1900 
Frank B. Martin 1861-62 Charles Graffin 1900-08 

Chas. D. Fuller 1862-65 Samuel S. Graffin 1908- 

The department at the borough comprises a post- 
master and assistant ; three clerks, auxiliary clerk, 
and special delivery messenger ; four carriers, sub- 
carrier, and mail messenger. 



62 EARLY HISTORY 

Three daily deliveries are made excepting Sundays ; 
and four collections from 35 boxes located in different 
parts of the borough. 

The following statement shows the character and 
extent of the postal business at Catasauqua : 

Daily mail handled : 

Outgoing (pieces) 2800 

Incoming (pieces) 4600 

Registered mail during 1913: — 

Outgoing (pieces) 2247 

Incoming (pieces) 2233 

Stamped paper sold during 1913 $13,340 

Domestic orders paid " " 21,950 

issued '■ " 34,048 

International orders paid during 1913 1,318 

issued '• " 3,426 

P. 0. Biiilding^The post-office has been located at 
Bridge and Railroad streets since 1907. The superior 
and attractive three-story brick building was erected 
by capitalists identified with the National Bank of 
Catasauqua at a cost of $25,000. The first floor is 
occupied by the Post-Office ; the second by the Tele- 
phone Exchanges, and the Clear Springs Water Co. ; 
and the third by the "Charotin Club," a social organ- 
ization of 80 members. 

Humane Fire Co — David Thomas, the manager of 
the Crane Iron Co., encouraged the workmen to form 
a fire company for the protection of the community as 
well as the iron works against fire, and in pursuance 
of his suggestion, a preliminary meeting was held in 
the village on Nov. 4, 1845, which was attended by tho 
following persons : 

Owen Rice George Jenkins 

.John Kane Arthur McQuade 

Edward Clark William Boyle 

Henry E. Kildare John Lees 

Isaac Miller Noah Phillips 

Thomas Dempsey Cochrane McLaughlin 

Alexander Miller Charles Dempsey 

Robert Campbell William Neligh 

Richard Davis William Pollock 



LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS 63 

Jacob Smith John Hunter 

Morgan Emanuel Junes Hunter 

Neil McKeever Alex. McCurdy 

Thomas Miller James Dempsey 

William McClelland Mark Dempsey 

Samuel Thomas Patrick Dempsey 

John Thomas James McAllister 

William J. Aull John Clark 

David Thomas William Davis 
John McTntyre 

The idea was approved, and the name "Humane 
Fire Company" adopted. 

An application was then made to the court of Le- 
high county for a charter of incorporation and the 
decree was made March 14, 1846. 

Hand Fire Engine — -Soon afterward the company 
purchased a hand-pumping engine from the Philadel- 
phia Fire Co. for the use of the local fire company. 
This engine was housed in a frame building on 2nd 
street near Church (now the site of the large stone 
stable of the Crane Iron Co.), until one was put up 
about 1866 on Front street. 

The engine consisted of a large water tank, set on 
four strong wheels, and over the centre was placed a 
tower which enclosed a force-pump ; and this pump 
was operated by two projecting handles from the 
front and rear with extension arms that could be laid 
inward when not in use. Twenty men were necessary 
to put and keep these handles in successful motion, 
ten on the ground, and ten on the tank with extension 
and folding platforms. A stream of water could be 
forced over buildings and into the air nearly as 
strong and as high as the steam-fire-engines of a later 
period. The water in the tank was supplied by a 
bucket-brigade from a neighboring well and pump, or 
by a hose from the water mains. 

At that time, the water mains were laid on Church 
and AVood streets, and on Front street from Churcli 
to Wood. These mains were primarily laid for the 
protection of the iron company's properties. The 



64 EARLY HISTORY 

water was pumped into them from the water-house in 
the furnace where a powerful pump was operated by a 
flow of water from the canal. The pressure through 
the mains was great, with such a force back of it. 

A hose-carriage with sufficient hose was secured at 
the same time, the hose being used to lead the water 
from the fire-plug into the engine tank, and from the 
force pump to the immediate vicinity of the fire 
whence it was "played" upon the burning building. 

Water Fight — A favorite sport on Saturday after- 
noons for the members of the fire company was to 
pit one party with a section of hose directly from a 
fire-plug against a similar party with a section from 
the hand-fire-engine. Oh, how they did "play" water 
into each other, to the great amusement of many on- 
lookers, who applauded the strenuous performance 
with uproarious laughter; and they would keep up 
the wet but friendly fight until either one, drenched 
and nearly drowned, cried ' ' enough. ' ' 

Of course, the great steam-engine in the furnace was 
too powerful, with inexhaustible staying qualities, for 
the heart-engines in twenty plucky firemen. It was, 
indeed, a dramatic performance, and the skilful en- 
gineer in the furnace displayed much judgment in 
manipulating the throttle at his end of the line to 
keep the human energy of the respective contestants 
swaying to and fro until either party became ex- 
hausted. 

Steam Fire-engine — This hand-engine continued in 
use until 1865 ; then a large fire occurred (the destruc- 
tion of the machine-shop of the Crane Iron Co.) which 
demonstrated its inefficiency. The Borough substi- 
tuted an improved steam fire-engine which was pur- 
chased from the Phoenix Fire Co. of Philadelphia, 
and this was used for 30 years ; then it too had to make 
way for a stronger engine because it had failed to 
cope with the great and costly fire at the Unicorn Silk 
Mill, beyond the northern end of the borough. 



OLDEST BUILDINGS 65 

The old hand-engine was stripped of its brass 
mountings and taken to the shadow of an old tree near 
the C. & F. R. R. round-house, and there the two 
passed away together in the natural process of decay. 
It would seem to me that the pride of this Fire 
Company should have been stirred up to such a pitch 
as to have kept it as a great relic of the sport, if not 
of the protection, which it had afforded them for 
twenty years, during the early development of the 
town, and in our "celebration" it would have been 
an honored curiosity. 

Before the erection of the Town-Hall in 1868, the 
apparatus was housed in a frame building specially 
put up by the borough for the purpose, on Front 
street, south of Church, which is now occupied as a 
barber-shop ; since 1868, it has been kept in the Town- 
Hall. 

OLDEST BUILDINGS— There are eight old build- 
ings in the borough which are still standing and 
worthy of special mention. 

Deily Stone Barn, near Catasauqua creek, east of 
the new concrete county bridge, supposed to have been 
erected about 1760; now owned by the F. J. Deily 
estate. 

George Taylor Residence, on the Deily Hill, south 
of Catasauqua creek, two-story stone Colonial dwell- 
ing, plastered, supposed to have been erected in 1768, 
and now owned by the Frank J. Deily estate. There 
were three cast-iron plates at the back of open fire- 
places here which were cast at the Durham Furnace 
in Bucks county, with G T 1768 on them. The large 
plate in the kitchen was removed and presented by the 
Deily Estate to the Historical Society of Lehigh Coun- 
ty in 1910. Taylor was employed as a clerk at this 
furnace and after its proprietor died he married the 
widow, and carried on the furnace before and during 
the Revolution. While there he became a member of 



G6 EARLY HISTORY 

Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence. \n 1918, when the School Directors of the 
Borongh erected a new school building in the 3rd 
Ward for the accommodation of the increasing number 
of children, they named the building after him. 

BiERY Farm-house at 2nd and Race streets, two- 
story stone, plastered and marked in imitation of 
brick ; supposed to have been erected about 1800 ; now 
owned by August Hohl. 

BiERY Hotel, on Race street, at rear of American 
Hotel; fine two-story cut stone,. used for many years 
as a tavern ; erected in 1826 ; now owned bv George 
B. F. Deily. 

Biery Home at Race and Canal streets, opposite 
the large grist mill of Mauser & Cressman; fine two- 
story cut stone, erected in 1830 ; now owned by Frank 
B. Mauser and occupied by him as a residence. 

Biery Stone-house, on Race street at the canal; 
fine two-story cut stone, used for many years as a 
store and residence by James Lackey, Joseph Lau- 
bach and George Deily to accommodate the boatmen ; 
erected in 1835 ; now owned by George B. F. Deily 
and occupied by him as a residence. 

Thomas Home — The first home of David Thomas 
was on Front street, opposite the Crane Iron Works ; 
two-story frame building erected for Thomas during 
the Summer and Fall of 1839 by the company while 
he and his family sojourned at Allentown till it was 
finished. A stone ice-house was erected for his use at 
the same time on the lot along the street, now used as 
a small store ; owned by the company. There were two 
prominent and useful institutions in connection Avith 
this home M'hich are also worthy of special mention. 

A sun-dial was established in 1840 by the Crane 
Iron Co. along Front street near the gate leading to 
this home which was highly appreciated in the village 
for 30 years. Whenever the sun shone, it indicated 



OLDEST BUILDINGS 67 

the correct time to all the inhabitants and visitors who 
passed the place. Watches and clocks were expensive 
then and not in general use. 

A well was sunk by the Crane Iron Co. on this 
premises at the same time that the dwelling house 
was erected for Mr. Thomas and a pump-stock was 
placed there with a long iron handle to raise the 
water, and a long-handled iron cup attached to a 
chain from Avhich to drink it. This was also appre- 
ciated, for the quality of the water was superior and 
many persons refreshed themselves there, more es- 
pecially the working people at the furnace ; indeed, 
all the families in that vicinity got their drinking 
water at this pump. It was continued in active 
use until the town came to be generally supplied from 
the water-works. 

Kurtz Farm-house, in the 3rd Ward on the Kurtz 
Lane leading from the Howertown Road : two-story 
stone, erected about 1800 ; now owned by John 
Yeager. 

Frederick Home — The old two-story stone house on 
the public road on the west side of the Lehigh river 
near the Biery Bridge was razed in 1892 to utilize the 
stone for filling in the approaches to the iron county- 
bridge erected on the site of the Biery Bridge. It 
was one of the early houses in the Lehigh Valley, hav- 
ing been built in 1757. It was familiarly known as 
the "Frederick Mansion," named after George Fred- 
erick, who was the owner of the farm on which it 
stood to the time of the construction of the Lehigh 
Valley R. R. in 1855, when he sold it to Asa Packer. 
One of the early owners was Jacob Yundt, who settled 
along the Lehigh river after taking up 278 acres in 
two warrants irl 1750, which extended from the Biery 
Bridge down to Stephen Snyder's farm; and he 
erected the stone house in 1757. It was known for 
years as "The Fort," because it is supposed to have 



68 EARLY HISTORY 

been used as a place of refuge during the Indian 
incursions. 

On account of their prominence in the early his- 
tory of the town, I should mention also the Biery 
Grist-mill, the Breisch Home, and the Peter Home. 

Biery Grist-mill — Opposite the Biery Tavern were 
the Biery grist-mill, together with a saw-mill and 
fulling-mill, and the fine two-story stone house (now 
the residence of Frank B. Mauser). The mill-dam 
(abandoned) lay several hundred feet to the north- 
east, and the mill-race extended under what is now 
the northerly end of the Dery silk-mill, and the yard 
of the Mauser residence. At the fulling-mill, the bags 
of carded wool were fastened together with strong pins 
cut from the hawthorn hedges which grew along the 
road-sides in the township. 

The farm-house along Race street, at 2nd, was the 
residence of Jonas Biery, a son of Frederick, who 
conducted the farm. There was a small rough-coated 
house where the Mauser barn is now located. 

Breisch Home — The Breisch home was on a farm of 
about 7 acres. It occupied the site of Dr. Daniel 
Voder's residence, at 3rd and Bridge streets. 

Peter Home — The Peter farm lay along the river. 
It extended northward from Church street to a point 
100 feet beyond Spring street, and eastward to the 
Howertown Road, excepting the Breisch farm, which 
was "sandwiched in between." The farm house and 
barn were situated opposite the Schneller Block ; the 
former was built of stone and stood near the canal. 

A primeval forest extended along Front street from 
Wood street to Church and eastward to the Hower- 
town Road. 

FIRST OCCUPATIONS— I mention the following 
names of persons who were the first here to pursue 
their several avocations in professional, industrial and 
commercial life : — 



FIRST OCCUPATIONS 69 

Doctors — The first doctor was William J. Romig 
of Allentown, who resided in the lower part of Front 
street and practiced his profession as a homoeopathic 
physician for eight or ten years when he returned to 
Allentown. He was succeeded by Dr. F. B. Martin 
who. for many years, was the only physician here, and 
in 1858 foi-med a partnership with Dr. Daniel Yoder. 
Martin died in 1868, and Yoder continued to practice 
until a few years ago when he retired. Dr. Hornbeck 
was a nephew of Dr. Martin who came here in 1866 
and was associated with his uncle until the latter 's 
death. He also continued practice until his death a 
few years ago. 

Dentists — There were no dentists here in 1839. 
Dr. J. P. Barnes, late of Allentown, was the first. He 
came over from Bath where he was a student with 
Dr. Scholl. He would visit the village on Church and 
Wood streets with his instruments in a satchel, and a 
patient requiring his services would attend to them. 
At that time it was the custom to ^le or cut away the 
tooth and insert an artificial tooth on a wooden pivot 
in the centre of the roots, the tooth having been cut 
away even with the gum. Imagine the pain, for no 
opiates were used. 

Prior to the settlement of the village, Thomas Butz, 
who owned the farm now the site of the Thomas Iron 
Co., was the only extractor of teeth apart from the 
doctors. People would come for miles around and 
have him extract their teeth which pained them. If 
he were in the field plowing, they would take along 
from the farm house the instrument, a long hook ; 
then he would sit them on a stump in the field, insert 
the hook back of the tooth (after having wrapped the 
handle with his handkerchief), and give a tremendous 
pull, when presto, out would come the troublesome 
tooth. 

Chemist — The first chemist was Alonzo W. Kinsey, 
an Englishman, employed by the Crane Iron Co. 



70 EARLY HISTORY 

He occasionally gave free lectures and showed great 
ability in chemical experiments. His most astonish- 
ing feat Avas, after having washed his hands with 
some li(juid, he would go to the foundry and dip his 
hands in a ladle of molten iron, and splash it around 
on the floor, then show his hands uninjured. He af- 
terwards removed to the Carnegie Works at the re- 
quest of Capt. Bill Jones ; there he married a second 
time, the mother of the wife of Charles Schwab, now 
of the Bethlehem Iron Co. He died a few years ago at 
an advanced age. 

Machinist — The first machinist was George Jen- 
kins who was foreman of the small machine shop at- 
tached to the Crane Iron Works. He afterwards be- 
came superintendent of the Boonton Iron Works at 
Boonton, N. J., Avhere some of his descendants are still 
living. 

Druggist — Uriah Brunner was the first druggist 
and also published the first newspaper, "The Rising 
Star of Catasauqua." He removed to West Point, 
Nebraska, where he became a State Senator of that 
State. 

Hotels — Besides the Biery Hotel (now the Amer- 
ican Hotel), there was Nathan Fegley's "Temper- 
ance Hotel" at the corner of Church and Front 
streets, now known as Fullers block. In connection 
Mr. Fegley also carried on a general store, lumber and 
coal business. 

Daguerreotypes — The first artist for taking pic- 
tures was John Swartz, a brother of B. Frank Swartz, 
deceased. Pictures then were only taken on glass, 
known as daguerreotypes. He died at an early age 
in 1852. 

Stoves and Tinware — This business was carried on 
by the late Charles W. Schneller, at Second and Mul- 
berry sti'eets; afterwards he removed to Front street, 
where his son Charles carries on the same business. 



FIRST OCCUPATIONS 71 

Tailors — The first tailor was Joseph Youndt. He 
died of small-pox over fifty years ago. 

Barbers — The first barber was Samuel Romich, who 
died prior to 1857, when James W. Fuller (1st) 
brought a colored barber here, named William E. 
Welsh, who carried on a shop many years. A son 
lives at Coplay who has a barber-shop there. 

Shoemaker — The first shoemaker was Joseph 
Troxell, who had a small store on the site of the 
Kemp store. His son, Alfred M. Troxell, carries on 
the same business at Front and Chapel streets. 

Stone Mason — The first stone mason was Charles 
Breisch who helped to erect the first furnace. One son 
and a number of grand-sons still live here. 

Cabinet-maker — Owen Frederick was the first un- 
dertaker for many years. He carried on the business 
at the same place occupied by Frederick & Sherer. 
He was born below Biery's Bridge in the old stone 
house erected in 1757, which was razed some twenty 
years ago. It was situated just below Johnston's 
foundry. 

Lumber-yard — The first lumber-yard was kept by 
Nathan Fegley, who came from Mauch Chunk. The 
front of the yard is the site of the Town Hall, ex- 
tending back to Middle alley, thence down to Front 
street, on the site of the stores of Charles Kemp and 
Law^all Bros. On this account Railroad alley is not 
in a straight line, but deflected westwardly. 

Brick-yard — The first brick-yard, where the bricks 
for the early brick buildings were manufactured, was 
on Howertown Road, at the corner of Wood street. 
David A. Tombler was the proprietor. He afterwards 
moved his yards to East Catasaucjua and a few years 
ago they were abandoned. 

Another brick-yard was on the Howertown Road 
close to Hunter's farm, where the Neighly Bros, car- 



72 EARLY HISTORY 

ried on the Ijiisiness for many years, but upon their 
removal west, it was abandoned. 

Ice-cream — Charles Andreas carried on the first 
confectionery and ice-cream saloon on Front street, 
on the site of Schneller's block. He was for many 
years in charge of the large blowing engines at the 
Crane Iron Works. 

Foundry — ^John Fritz and his brother came here 
prior to 1852, and carried on the Union Foundry on 
the corner of Front and Pine streets. His brother-in- 
law, Isaac Chandler, had a blacksmith-shop on the 
site of the Crane Iron Co.'s locomotive-house at 
Bridge and Front streets. After a few years, they all 
left for Johnstown, Cambria county, Pa. 

FIRST ROCKER— I remember the first rocking- 
chair brought to Biery's-Port. It was purchased at 
Bethlehem and it was so important a purchase that 
two men brought it up on a boat. When it arrived at 
the end of the week, the greater part of the villagers 
went to see it as a great curiosity. This was in 1847. 

FIRST CARRIAGE— The first carriage at Biery's- 
Port was brought by John Boyer, father of Eugene 
J. Boyer, when he moved here from Bath about 1849. 
This was also regarded as a curiosity. 

FIRST SULPHUR MATCH— It is said that the 
first match was made at Paris in 1805 ; and the first 
pocket match by John Walker, an English druggist, 
who sold 84 of them for a shilling. 

Frederick Eberhart, who came to Catasauqua from 
New Jersey, made the first sulphur matches by taking 
a block of pine wood and so splitting it in small sticks 
with a knife as to leave the block at the bottom intact, 
and this was dipped in a solution of sulphur. He sold 
these blocks in the winter season when he had no other 
work. In using a match one was pulled off at a time. 

CHURCHES — I mention in this compilation the 
two Presbyterian churches because they are so promi- 



CHURCHES 73 

nently identified with the early history of Catasauqua. 

First Presbyterian Church — The First Presby- 
terian Church at Catasauqua was established when 
the Crane Iron Co. started its great work here in 
1839, and David Thomas is regarded as its founder. 
The first building of the congregation was erected in a 
woods on the south end of a small triangular piece of 
ground at the extreme limits of the land purchased by 
the Crane Iron Co., which was donated by the com- 
pany for religious purposes. It adjoined the public 
road that led from Allen township on the north to 
tlje old town of Bethlehem on the south-east. The 
base or front of this land was 164 feet in length, and 
the other two sides each 158 feet. 

The building was constructed of boards set upright, 
and covered by a shingle roof ; and once a year it was 
white-washed, inside as well as outside, for which 
purpose a hogshead of lime was alwa.ys on hand in a 
shed at the rear of the building. Three long iron 
rods were placed across the auditorium near the ceil- 
ing at equal distances, and these were fastened on the 
outside by nuts so as to keep the building firmly to- 
gether. Camphene was used in lamps for lighting the 
room. The lamps were suspended from the ceiling 
and these could be lowered or elevated at will by sim 
ply pressing against a slender rod which extended 
through a little hole in the ceiling ; and that slender 
rod disappearing through that little hole excited the 
curiosity of in((uiring children. 

By the suggestion of Mr. Thomas (who was the 
manager of the company) this small piece of ground 
at the rear of the old reservoir on Church street was 
enlarged to a rectangular figure 200 feet in width and 
350 feet in depth. 

The history of this congregation was concisely given 
in an address by Samuel Thomas, son of the founder, 
upon the occasion of celebrating on Sept. 23, 1904, the 
"Semi-Centennial Jubilee" of laying the corner-stone 



74 EARLY HISTORY 

of the present church on the north-east corner of 2nd 
and Pine streets, and its completeness being recognized, 
it has been substituted here in place of a previously 
published narrative. It was entitled by him, "Early 
Reminiscences of the First Presbyterian Church ' ' : — 

"Just fifty years ago, in the peace and calm of the early twilight of 
a beautiful September evening, a group of Christian worshippers as- 
sembled to witness the ceremony of laying the corner stone of the First 
Presbyterian Church in whose shadow we are now standing, firnt in 
name only, but not in point of erection. 

The first church was a little frame building 25 by 35 feet, built 
by David Minnich, in the woods between the reservoir and what is now 
Mrs. John Williams' garden, at the upper end of Church street, on 
land donated by the Crane Iron Co. The time was the last Sunday of 
December, 1839. cold and stormy, when the ground was covered with 
snow, and brother John and I had nailed planks together to use as 
a plough to open paths through the heavy fall of snow. The storm was 
so severe that after the corner stone had been laid by Rev. Landis, 
. pastor of the Allentown Presbyterian Church (the first English church 
in Lehigh county), the little congregation were obliged to continue 
the services in the home of Father Thomas, which is still standing op- 
posite the Crane Iron Works. 

Of that little band of Presbyterian pioneers, I c:in find only three 
survivors besides myself: Mrs. Bender (nee Peter), and Mi-s. Owen 
Swartz, her sister, and Mrs. Rehrig (nee Lackey), all the others 
having passed on to the beyond towards which we also are hastening. 
As near as my memory serves me. those present on this interesting 
occasion were the following: — 'Father' and 'Mother' Thomas with their 
five children (Jane, Gwenny, Samuel, John and David), Mrs. James 
Lackey and daughter Maggie, John Samuels and daughter Rachel, 
Mrs. John Leibert, John Peter and family, Aaron Bast, Charles 
Breisch, Lawrence Landis, Mrs. Jonathan Landis and Andrew Archer. 
There were doubtle.ss others, but these stand out clearest against the 
past. 

The little building has been demolished and the venerable black oak 
free has been removed, in whose forked branches I, as a boy, hung 
the bell which called the faithful to prayers. This bell passed into the 
hands of the Crane Iron Co., by whom it was used once a month on 
pay-days to call tlie men together. It still hangs on a branch of the 
tree, close to the ofiice, where the curious may each find it. 
The tree and bell were natural means to a spiritual end and though 
they have passed out of use, the spirit abides for this church wliose 
semi-centennial we celebrate to-day, and its great development into 
other cliurches, such as the Bridge Street Church, the church at Hoken- 
dauqua, the Bethel-Welsh Congregational Church (known as 'Motlior 
Thomas's Churcli), tlie churches at Lockridge, Ferndalf and Richarrl's 



CHURCHES 75 

Mine in New Jersey, and the Presbyterian Church at Thomas in far off 
Alabama. 

All these churches are living branches of the tree which was planted 
in faith and hope fifty years ago on that inclement Winter Sunday 
by a band of earnest Presbyterian men and women. The women are 
worthy of special mention for they too carried their share of the burden 
cheerfully and nobly. Well do I remember my sister Gwenny, Rachel 
Samuel, Maggie Lackey and Susanna Peter, brave and helpful young 
girls, who carried water in pails all the way from the canal to scrub 
and clean the church, and as the building was used for a day-school 
during the week, every Saturday morning it required their earnest 
attention. 

In a recent interview with Mrs. Owen Swartz and Mrs. Rehrig, 
whose personal recollections of the early times in the history of this 
church are very clear, I was reminded that church services were held 
in my father's house until the completion of the building on March 22, 
1840. 

This little white-washed church was used for worship until the 
present building was ready to be occupied in 18^6. Two years after 
the laying of the corner stone, the church was dedicated, free of debts. 
My thoughts dwell with especial pleasure upon those far-off days, and 
the building of tho.se early Walls of Zion in our adopted home. 

As I review those early years, I see the earnest figures of my father 
and mother, who were strangers in a strange land, zealous from the 
beginning to see a house of worship planted here. When the church 
was organized, it numbered only three, father, mother and sister Jane; 
and father was then ordained as first elder. 

About two years later, David Williams, Sr., located with his 
family at Catasauqua and he became a member of this church ; and 
soon afterwards he was inducted into the eldership. He was a most 
excellent man, and though in poor health he was strenuous in all good 
works. It was he who took up the collection and acted as treasurer of 
the church. He died August 14, 1845, and his remains were l:iid 
to rest in the church yard after services in the little white churcli wliich 
he had served so well. 

As the population increased the church in the woods became too 
small. A special meeting of the congregation was therefore held to 
discuss ways and means for securing a new birilding. A committee 
was appointed consisting of the pastor, Rev. Cornelius Earle, David 
Thomas, Morgan Emanuel, William McClelland and Joshua Hunt. 

By an arrangement with David Thomas (who had donated some 
adjoining land to enlarge the church property on Church street), an 
exchange was made of that land whic.i secured to the congregation the 
site of 180 by 180 feet at the corner of Second and Pine streets, upon 
which today stands the present church, the parsonage and the chapel. 
Plans having been made and adopted, sufficient funds were raised to 
warrant the new enterprise. 



76 EARLY HISTORY 

Ihe coi'Mor stone (if tlu- nld church was Ijronght hoi'e and deposited 
just previous to the ceremony of laying; the new corner stone. It is 
a gray sand stone from near Kreidersville. It was fashioned by Charles 
Breisch and bears the date of 1839, which can be seen on excrimination. 
In the new stone a copper box was laid which, according; to custom, 
contained a Bible, some coins, local papers, and whatever the copper 
box of the old corner stone had contained. An address was delivered 
by Rev. Richard Walker of AUentown, and Rev. Leslie Irwin of Batn 
assisted in the services. 

On Sunday, the lltli day of May, 1856, tlie church wis solemnly 
dedicated to the worship of God. Rev. Geo. Duffield, D. D., preached 
the dedicatory sermon, Rev. C. Earle and Rev. R. Walker taking part 
in the services. Rev. Jacob Becker preached German in the afternoon. 
Only a few remain who were then from 20 to 30 years of age: 
Mi-s. Thomas Bear William Kildare 

Charles Graffin Chas. W. Schneller 

Daniel Milson Mrs. Quigg 

James Nevins 

and those who were from ten to twenty years still among us are: 

Mrs. John Thomas Owen F. Leibert 

James Thomas Joseph McFetridge 

Mrs. James Thomas John McFetridge 

Mrs. Emma C. Williams Mrs. John Knauss 

Rebecca Siegley Mrs. James Torrence 

Mrs. Kate Stewart Martha Wilson 

William H. Glace Thomas Jones 

Joseph Matchette Mrs. Wm. T. Snyder 

Mrs. Herbert James Mrs. Edwin Mickley 

Samuel Davis Mrs. James W. Fuller 

Daniel Davis Archibald Courtney 
David Davis 

The edifice is l)uilt of brick, semi-Gothic in style. 
The main building is 40 by 63 feet, exclusive of tower 
and pulpit recess ; and it has a transept on the south 
side 20 by 30 feet, which forms part of the audience 
room, and also an organ transept on the north side, 
10 by 20 feet. The organ was the gift of David 
Thomas. The spire is 150 feet high, a fine-toned bell 
being in the tower. The congregation had been reg- 
ularly incorporated in 1853. 

As commemorative of the re-union of the Old School 
and New School Assemblies of the Presbyterian 
Church a memorial chapel was built on Pine street at 



CHURCHES 77 

the rear of the edifice in 1871, the corner-stone having 
been laid May 13th, and the dedication having taken 
place on December 10th. This building is also of 
brick, semi-Gothic in style, 35 by 82 feet. It contains 
rooms for all church purposes ; and it is used for mid- 
week services and by the Sabbath-school. 

Forty feet north of the church, front on 2nd street, 
there is an attractive and conveniently planned 
manse, built of brick, in style corresponding with the 
church. 

Rev. Cornelius Earle served as the pastor in a most 
efficient manner from Oct. 14, 1852 to 1898, when he 
resigned, after a continuous and most successful ser- 
vice covering a period of 46 years. 

During the year 1899 the regular services were con- 
ducted by other licensed Presbyterian ministers. 

Rev. Charles H. Miller was elected as the successor 
of Rev. Earle, and he has served the congregation in 
a most efficient manner since February 1900. 

A sunday-school has been conducted in connection 
with the church from the beginning, and the super- 
intendents have been prominently identified with the 
church as elders : — 

David Thomas, 1839 to 1847; elder from 1839 to 1882. 

Joshua Hunt, 1847 to 1882; elder from 1847 to 1886. 

John Williams, 1882 to 1892; elder from 1874 to 1892. 

Joseph Matchette, 1892 to 1914; elder from 1892 to 1914. 

The membership of the church in December, 1913, 
was 234; of the sunday-school, 300. 

Bridge Street Church — Rev. Leslie Irwin at the 
time of building the little frame church was the pastor 
of the "Irish Settlement." He was a graduate of the 
Royal-Belfast College, and having been licensed to 
preach by the Synod of Ulster, he emigrated to Amer- 
ica in 1834. He was received as a licentiate by the 
Presbyterians of Philadelphia on Dec. 22, 1835,, and 
there ordained as an evangelist, with orders to locate 
in the ' ' Irish Settlement. ' ' Upon his arrival he found 



78 EARLY HISTORY 

two churches, one at Weaversville and the other near 
Bath, both of which are still standing. 

The erection of a church of the same faith within 
the boundaries of his parish without authority of the 
Presbytery, and the removal of influential familes like 
the Nagles, Depews, Loders, Lyles and Hudders, to the 
new village, caused him to be on the alert. He there- 
fore visited the people who had come from his own 
country in the north of Ireland, and finding himself 
in touch with them, he requested permission to preach 
to them in this new church, which was given. 

At great personal inconvenience and in spite of in- 
clement weather, he visited the families from house to 
house, and once every Sabbath preached the gospel to 
them. Finally, in 1850, in compliance Avith their re- 
quest, set out in a petition, the Presbytery of Newton 
organized another congregation with 32 members and 
ordained James McClelland as its first ruling elder. 
Rev. Irwin continued his ministrations in a • most 
faithful manner for fifteen years until 1865, when he 
was succeeded by Rev. James Lewars. In 1852 he suc- 
ceeded in securing the erection of a church on Bridge 
street, a short distance west of the Howertown Road, 
on the additional lot of ground, containing 2 acres 
76 ps. which had been granted and conveyed in 1849 
by John Peter to David Thomas, Robert IMcIntyre, 
Owen Rice, Samuel Thomas, William Taylor. David 
Williams and John Peter, as trustees of the Presby- 
terian congregation. Before this time a memorial to 
the Presbytery was signed by 170 individuals, as 
residents of Craneville, and a report was forwarded in 
1850, stating that there were 62 members in com- 
miniion with the Church. 

After the purchase of this small additional tract of 
land, the "old school members" desired to withdraw 
from the "Union Church," and effect a division of 
the assets, having, in a petition to the Crane Iron Co., 
styled themselves as the "Presbyterian Church of 



CHURCHES 79 

Craneville," though neither of the two congregations 
had as yet been incorporated. Biit it would seem that 
the Presbytery at Newton recognized Rev. Irwin's 
congregation as the "old school." The lot, known 
as the "Academy Lot," was eventually sold, the debt 
on it satisfied, and the surplus equally divided be- 
tween the two congregations respectively known as 
the "Old School" and "New School." These desig- 
nations subsequently became offensive to the respec- 
tive members, and a change was accordingly made so 
that the congregation which erected their new church 
in 1852 on Bridge street was named "The First Old 
School Presbyterian Church, ' ' and that which erected 
theirs in 185-4 at Pine and Second streets was named 
"The First Presbyterian Church." The former was 
incorporated in 1851, and the application^was signed by 

Robert Mclntyre William Miller 

.John Mclntyre William Baird 

John Hudders Thomas Knox 

John G. Loder James Pollock 

William Taylor F. W. Quigg; 

The edifice erected in 1852 on Bridge street was a 
plain, frame, one-story building and this was used 
until 1866, when the present brick church was erected 
in its place. A two-story brick parsonage was erected 
shortly after 1852 on the lot, east of the church, for 
the use of the pastor. 

From that time, the so-called "old-school" have 
worshipped in the building by themselves. In the pro- 
ceedings of incorporating the respective congrega- 
tions, this distinction was studiously avoided, and the 
only public evidence of its existence is the inscription 
of the letters "0 S" on the cornerstone of the 
Bridge Street Church. 

The membership of the congregation was as fol- 
lows: In 1850, 32; in 1865, 105; in 1873, 225; in 1900. 
159; in 1913, 271. 



80 EARLY HISTORY 

The pastors have been: — 

Leslie Irwin 1839-65 David Harbison 1876-1901 

James Lewis 1865-68 Benj. P. Hammond 1902-09 

William Fulton 1868-75 Harry W. Ewig 1909-14 

Four young men of this church became candidates 
for the ministry, and, after a thorough preparation, 
were regularly installed as ministers of the Gospel 
according to the Presbyterian faith. Their names 
are Nathaniel McFetridge, John Irwin, Albert J. 
Weisley and Joseph L. Weisley. 

The "Semi-Centennial Jubilee" of the church 
was appropriately celebrated by the congregation 
May 6-11, 1900; and as a "souvenir" of this historic 
occasion, a neat little volume was compiled, embracing 
a concise history of the church, and distributed among 
the members. 

A sunday-school was organized by the first pastor 
about the time he began his pastorate here and it has 
been conducted until the present time. The superin- 
tendents have been Joseph McMullin, John Hudders, 
and William Weisley, the last named since July 14, 
1872. The membership in December, 1913, was 170. 

Visiting Ministers- — Numerous visiting ministers 
preached in the old church. Thomas P. Hunt, an 
itinerant preacher, an ardent anti-slavery man and a 
"Washingtonian" (as the temperance men were then 
called), would come periodically without notice. He 
was a small hump-backed man ; but his tongue was 
straight and lively. On one occasion he came unan- 
nounced, and he was in the pulpit as the congregation 
assembled. The pulpit was high and suitable for tall 
men. On this occasion, after the choir had finished 
singing, he suddenly popped up (only his head show- 
ing above the pulpit) and announced his text by the 
startling words, " It is I, be not afraid. ' ' 

Rev. Charles H. Russell was a graduate of Yale 
College and came here as a teacher in the Bridge-street 
school-house. He preached as a "supply" and gener- 



FAIRVIEW CEMETERY 81 

ally had notes of his sermon. On one occasion a gust 
of wind blew the loose notes of his sermon in every 
direction, whereupon old John McClintock, who oc- 
cupied the first pew, jumped up and began to gather 
them together when Russel called out in a loud twang, 
"Never mind, John, let them fly," and proceeded 
with the discourse to the end without his notes. 

Academy — An academy was erected in 1848-49 on 
the Presbyterian lot by Alfred Cattemore (an English 
carpenter who had "strayed" here), by securing sub- 
scriptions from the members ; and the Crane Iron Co. 
advanced $1,200 towards the cost of it, for which they 
took a mortgage. This was regarded as a model school 
at that time. It had ventilators in the ceiling, and 
each pupil had his own desk with an ink-well set in 
on top and screwed fast, and shelves were arranged 
underneath for his books. It was continued in use as 
a private-school until 1856 when it was sold to the 
Catasau(iua School District for $2,530, and the pro- 
ceeds, after satisfying the mortgage, were distributed 
in equal proportions to the two congregations. The 
trustees of this school were 

David Thomas William Taylor 

Robert Mclntyre David Williams 

Samuel Thomas Owen Rice 

.Tohn Peter 

The School District held and occupied this school- 
house and lot for 40 years, until the erection of the 
Lincoln school building; then it was abandoned for 
school purposes. Subsequently it was sold to James 
W. Fuller for $5,000, and he erected thereon a com- 
modious mansion for himself, which is still standing, 
and occupied by his son. 

The teachers were John Hudders and his wife, 
Esther Hudders, Joseph Leonard, Rebecca Leonard, 
Samuel P. Bliss, Alonzo W. Kinsey, Charles H. Rus- 
sell, and others. 

FAIRVIEW CEMETERY was founded by James 
W. Fuller of Catasauqua in 1858, having purchased 



82 EARLY HISTORY 

from Robert Mclntyre and Peter Miller 6 acres 110 
perches of land in South Whitehall (now Whitehall) 
township, across the Lehigh river from Catasauqiia, 
for burial purposes, because the conveniences of inter- 
ment in the l)orough were limited. Before that time, 
the dead bodies of the town had been buried in the 
grave-yards adjoining the Presbyterian Church at 
Church street and Church alley, and that adjoining 
the St. Paul's Lutheran Church on Howertown Road, 
and also that adjoining the old Evangelical Church at 
Mull)erry street and Howertown Road. Fuller laid 
off tlie land into burial lots, 10 by 20 feet, and named 
the place "Fairview Cemetery" on account of its ele- 
vated situation ; and he provided in each deed, exe- 
cuted and delivered by him, for lots in the cemetery, 
"that when one-half of the lots in the original plot 
were sold, the purchasers were empowered to form 
an association for the care and management of its 
affairs, make rules and regulations for its government, 
elect officers and have complete control of the 
ground. ' ' 

In 1871, an organization was formed by the lot- 
holders, who elected the following managers : — 

Melchior H. Horn, president. 
R. A. Boyer (sec. and treas.) Samuel L. Nevins 

David A. Tombler James W. Swartz 

R. Clay Hamer.sly William "H. Laubach 

.Tohn Thomas Orange M. Fuller 

A petition was presented to Court for the incor- 
poration of "The Fairview Cemetery Association," 
and the decree was made on Sept. 13, 1872. The dead 
interred in the grave-yards of the borough were then 
removed to the cemetery. 

Many fine monuments have been set up in this ceme- 
tery. It includes a superb "Soldiers' Monument" 
which is recognized as the first erected in Pennsyl- 
vania, and this was accomplished largely through the 
instrumentality of Samuel Thomas in response to an 



SOLDIERS' MONUMENT 83 

earnest request of his brother David, made shortly 
before his death in 1862. 

A superior and attractive, enclosed pavilion was 
placed in the circle, next to the Soldiers' Monument, 
by the Association in 1895 ; and another prominent 
feature is the large vault of David Thomas. 

Soon after the cemetery had become the property 
of the Association in 1872, two bequests were made 
to it by James AV. Fuller and Samuel Glace with the 
condition that the income should be expended 
towards the perpetual care and preservation of their 
burial lots. Since then numerous other lot-holders 
have followed their example. 

The total lots laid off number 2,317. The graves to 
January, 1914, number 4,800. 

John Kane was the first soldier of the Civil War 
buried in this cemetery, April 27, 1862, and the ex- 
traordinary event attracted many people. 

SOLDIERS' MONUMENT— At the close of the 
Civil War, the patriotic impulses of this community 
gave a practical appreciation of the costly services of 
the volunteer soldiers from Catasauqua and the vicin- 
ity, by the erection of a costly marble monument on 
the circular plot, reserved for it in the cemetery, and 
on the four sides of the shaft there are inscribed the 
names, rank and regiment of each soldier who boldly 
went forth to battle that the. Union might and should 
be preserved, numbering altogether 157, and also the 
names of the battles in which they were engaged, and 
twenty-six of these soldiers were killed or died in 
service. And across the top of the shaft hangs the 
American flag in graceful folds, surmounted by the 
striking figure of an American eagle with outspread 
wings, as if standing guard over the heroes sleeping 
quietly there till the resurrection morn. Around the 
monument a space was at first reserved for the burial 
of veteran soldiers but this idea was afterward 



84 EARLY HISTORY 

abandoned in order to set apart the raoniiment more 
effectually. 

The monument was solemnly dedicated on Oct. 3, 
1866, with appropriate ceremonies, pursuant to ar- 
rangements by the Monument Association, and Rev. 
C. Earle, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, 
delivered an historical address. In the course of his 
remarks, the pastor emphasized the statement that 
neither his name nor the name of any other civilian 
member of the committee appeared anywhere on the 
shaft in pursuance of a provision by the Monument 
Association at the time of its inception ' ' that no man 's 
name shall be inscribed on the monument unless he 
was sworn into the service of the United States and 
was under the enemy's fire ;" so that it is just what it 
purports to be, "A Soldiers' Monument." 

Maj. A. R. Calhoun was the orator and he delivered 
an impressive oration to a large concourse of people 
who had assembled from all the towns and places of 
the Lehigh Valley, including many men who had been 
in actual service and faced the enemies of their 
country. 

In 1871, Gen. Charles Albright, member of Con 
gress, introduced a special act of Congress to donate 
four siege guns and 24 cannon balls of unused artil- 
lery to the George W. Fuller Post, No. 74, G. A. R., 
for the adornment of this, "the first soldiers' monu- 
ment in Pennsylvania;" and in 1884, upon the re- 
organization of Fuller Post No. 378, G. A. R., the 
Secretary of War ordered the Commandant of the 
Watervliet Arsenal at West Troy, N. Y.. to issue to 
said Post four 64-pounder cannons, two of the Eng- 
lish model of 1812 weighing respectively 5,514 and 
5,498 pounds, and two U. S. guns of the 1819 and 
1829 models, weighing respectively 5,014 and 5,000 
pounds ; and these were placed at the four corners of 
the monument as an appropriate and expressive orna- 
mentation. 



SOLDIERS' MONUMENT 



85 



Roll of Honor — The names of the enlisted men in- 
scribed on the shaft, with their rank and organization 
as a " Roll of Honor, ' ' are as follows : — 

40^/) Reg't., P. V. 
Officers. 



Major Arnold C. Lewis 
Capt. Joseph Matchette 
Lieut. Win. R. Thomas 
Lieut. Robert Wilson 
Lieut. Edward Cramsie. 
Lieut. James McQuillen 
Ord. Serg. Isaac Davies 
Serg. Daniel Davis 



Serg. 
Serg. 
Corp. 
Corp. 
Corp. 
Corp. 
Corp. 



Privates 



Wallace Brown 
John Blair 
David Bachman 
John Brown 
John Cannon 
Daniel D\v5er 
Daniel Desmond 
Alex. Doneghue 
Hugh Dougherty 
Philip Hill 
Geo. Hasson 
Jeremiah Keefe 
John Kilpatrick 
John Leo 
Thomas Mooney 
John McMurtrie 



47(/i 



Rerft., P. 
Officers. 



Capt. Henry S. Harte 
Capt. Edwin Gilbert 
Lieut. James W. Puller 
Lieut. Geo. W. Fuller 
Lieut. Wm. H. Bartholomew 
Lieut. Augustus Eagle 
Lieut. Henry H. Bush 
Lieut. Thos. F. Lambert 
Ord. Serg. James Tait 
Ord. Serg. Wm. H. Glace 
Serg. John W. Heberling 
Serg. Richmond H. Schwab 
Serg. Jos. J. Lilly 
Serg. Albert H. McHose 



Morgan Richards 
John J. Davis 
Robt. E. Williams 
Wm. McMonegal 
Hugh Lyons 
John Patrick 
John Moore 



Corp. John H. Price 
Musician Andrew Sinley 

James McCracken 
James McLaughlin 
David McCandless 
John McQuillen 
John McFadden 
John Reed 
Solomon J. Rowe 
Michael Rohfritz 
John Richari!s 
Patrick Reilly 
John Son 
Patrick Sullivan 
Wm. Thompson 
Franklin Ward 
S imuel Zellner 



Serg. W. F. Longenhagen 
Serg. John L. Jones 
Corp. Joseph H. Schwab 
Corp. G. H. Longenhagen 
Corp. Martin O'Brien 
Corp. Josiah H. Walk 
Corp. Jr.mes E. Patterson 
Corp. Robt. Cunningham 
Corp. Augustus F. Eberhart 
Corp. Chas. L. Nolf, Jr. 
Corp. Spencer Tettermer 
Corp. Jas. Ritter 
Corp. W. H. Van Dyke 
Mus. David A. Tombler, Jr. 



8G 



EARLY HISTORY 



Piivates 

David Andrews Clias. H. Michel 

Abram Bauder Daniel Newhart 

Godfrey Betz John O'Brien 

Stephen Beers Michael O'Brien 

Hiram A. Beitelman Wm. Offhouse 

Wm. Christ Griff. Reinhart 

Ambrose Dietrich Kobt. M. Sheats 

Wm. Ehrich Nicholas Smitli 

Orlando Puller Gotlieb Schrum 

Fred. Fisher P. H. Wilson 

Rainey Grader John P. Weaver 

Addison R. Geho John Worley 

Joseph Geiger John Weiss 

Joseph Gross G. Assenheimer 

Joseph HunsicKer Wm. Henry 

William Herman Emanuel Lefifler 

Isaac Jacoby Aaron Laub 

Wm. Jordan Chas. Leffler 

John Kane Frank Leffler 

Geo. Kerchner Benj. Missimer 

Nicholas Kuhn Wm. Mensch 

Wm. Kuntz William Myers 

Reuben H. Keim Ed. Mathew 

Philip King Jenkin Richards 

Charles King Alfred Lynn 

J. K. Longenhagen W. H. Moll 

Joel Laudenslager Geo. Moll 
John Lucky 

Different Organizations. 



Milton J. Hooker, 1 Pa. Res. 
Joseph Shelly, 1 Pa. Res. 
Stephen Sheirer, 1 Pa. Res. 
John SchoUe, 3 Pa. Res. 
Joe. Davies, 53 Pa. Vols. 
James Hutchison, 53 Pa. "Vols. 
John McClelland, 53 Pa. Vols. 
George Henry, 54 Pa. Vols. 
John Case, 58 Pa. Vols. 
John Saurwine, 58 Pa. Vols. 
William Paul, 188 Pa. Vols. 
Thomas Smith, 202 Pa. Vols. 



Charles Br 



6 Pa. Cav. 



Samuel Roberts. 6 Pa. Cav. 
William Berlin, 8 Pa. Cav. 
James R. Henry, 8 Pa. Cav. 
Peter Mack, 8 Pa. Cav. 
John Keeffer, Hi Pa. Cav. 
Samuel Kiefer, 6 N. J. Cav. 
Abram Miller, 6 N. J. Cav. 
Robert Newhard, 6 N. J. Cav. 
Herbert James, 12 U. S. Inf. 
John Bigley, 14 U. S. Inf. 
Charles Miller, 14 U. S. Inf. 
William Newhard, 14 U. S. Inf. 
John Graham, IT. S. Navv. 



Battles of the 46f7( Refjiment. 
Winchester, Va., March 23, 1862. 
Middletown, Va., May 25, 1862. 
Winchester, Va., May 26, 1862. 



FIRST FUNERAL 87 

Cedar Mountain, Va., Aug. 9, 1862. 
Sulpluu- Springs, Va., Aug. 27, 1862. 
South Mountain, Md., Sept. 14, 1862. 
Autietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Chancellorsville, Va., May 1, 2, 3, 1863. 
Gettysburg, July 1, 2, 3, 1863. 
Resaca, Ga., May 15, 1864. 
Cassville, Ga., May 19, 1864. 
Dallas, Ga., May 25, 1864. 
Pine Knob, Ga., June 9, 1864. 
Kulp's Farm, Ga., June 22, 1864. 
Pine Tree Creek, Ga., July 26, 1864. 
Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 6, 1864. 
Cypress Swamp, Ga., Dec. 8, 1864. 
Savannah, Ga., Dec. 21, 1864. 
Chesterfield, C. H., So. Car., March 2, 1865. 
Averysboro, No. Car., March 14, 1865. 
Berryville, Va., Sept. 5, 1864. 
Coon Run, No. Car., April 10, 1865. 
Raleigh, No. Car., April 26, 1865. 

Battles of the 47th Regiment. 
St. John's Bluff, Flor., Oct. 8, 1862. 
Pocataligo, So. Car., Oct. 22, 1862. 
Sabine Cross Roads, La., April 8, 1864. 
. Pleasant Hill, La., April 9, 1864. 
Cane River, La., April 25, 1864. 
Manasses Plains, La., May 16, 1864. 
Berryville, Va., Cept. 5, 1864, 
Opequan Creek, Va., Sept. 19, 1864. 
Fisher's Hill, Va., Sept. 22, 1864. 
Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, 1864. 

FIRST FUNERAL— After the completion of the 
first furnace, a young man named John Thomas (a 
relative of the superintendent) fell from its top and 
was killed. Samuel Thomas, the son of the superin- 
tendent, told me a few years prior to his decease, that 
he saw the young man drop. The body was buried 
in the grave-yard at the rear of the Presbyterian 
Church on 5th street, in Allentown. It was carried 
on a bier, on the shoulders of relays of fellow-employ- 
ees, who wore high hats from which hung long 
streamers of black crepe, after the custom at that time 
prevalent in Wales. 



88 EARLY HISTORY 

Almost every inhabitant of the hamlet followed 
the solemn procession on foot to the grave-yard, 
amongst them being "Mother" Thomas (as she was 
afterward affectionately called), and Mrs. James 
Lackey. After the completion of the substantial fam- 
ily vault of David Thomas in Fairview Cemetery, the 
remains were removed to it. Soon after this funeral, 
a burial ground was provided in Biery's-Port on the 
lot adjoining the frame Presbyterian Church on 
Church street. 

At that time it was customary in the surrounding 
country, when there was a funeral, to place the coffin 
on a large farm-vragon on a bed of straw and chairs 
were arranged around the coffin for the chief mourn- 
ers. On account of the thinly-settled countrj^, rela- 
tives and friends came a considerable distance to at- 
tend a funeral, and after the burial all were invited 
to return to the house for refreshments. The guests 
stood in a row and waiters served them with a cold 
lunch, followed by helpers who carried bottles of 
whiskey and glasses on trays and offered liquid re- 
freshment to all such as wished to indulge. 

The cholera of 1854 was fatal. It was brought here 
in a boat from Philadelphia. Some days there were 
several funerals ; and it was indeed a gruesome sight 
to see them marching up Church street, the coffin 
high in the air iipon the carriers' shoulders, swaying 
to and fro, followed by relatives whose lamentations 
filled the air. Of the McClelland family, an adult 
brother and sister were buried the same day. 

Quite a number of boatmen were drowned here by 
the rapid rush of the water in the canal, which was 
caused by the forcing process to supply a strong blast 
for the furnace, and their bodies were buried on the 
Presbyterian lot. 

Since that time, tliere has arisen a great change in 
the modes of burial, and in the construction of the 
coffins, all in the line of an advanced enlightenment. 



EARLY SCHOOLS 89 

Then there were no means of embalming or preserv- 
ing the bodies, the only way being to lay them on sod. 
Burials were necessarily made soon after death. 

A grave-yard was attached to the St. Paul's Luth- 
eran Church; and one to the Evangelical Church at 
the corner of Howertown Road and ]\Iulberry street. 
Two were attached to the Presbyterian Churches. 

These grave-yards in the town have been discon- 
tinued and the bodies buried there removed to the 
Fairview Cemetery. It has been estimated that about 
100 bodies were buried in the grave-yards of the two 
Presbyterian Churches. 

EARLY SCHOOLS— The first school was held in 
the "Old Church," and started with 15 pupils. A 
Mr. Landis was the teacher, and he was soon after- 
ward followed by a young man named Evans, when 
it was transferred to the Hanover township school- 
house on Deily's Hill, which overlooked the dam 
opposite the foot of 2nd street. This was before 1853, 
when the village was a part of the township. The 
new school law had previously been accepted. The 
building was one story, with one room. 

The first school building established within the 
limit of the borough was a frame shanty put up by 
the Crane Iron Co. at the corner of Church street 
and Limestone alley. 

The second was erected by Hanover township at 
the corner of Union street and Railroad alley which 
the borough received upon its incorporation. 

The third v/as the Bridge street school in 1849. 
•The fourth was situated on lower 2nd street, whicli 
is now owned by the Lenox Manufacturing Co. 

The fifth was the 2nd street High-school building in 
1859. 

The sixth was situated on lower Front street, now 
owned by the Temperance Association. 

The seventh was the Lincoln building on the How- 
ertown Road. 



90 EARLY HISTORY 

The eighth was the High-school building, adjoining 
the Lincoln building. 

In addition to the schools mentioned, a three-story 
building, situated on Front street near Union, was 
rented and used for school purposes. This is now 
owned by Frank Hunsicker, Esq. 

]Mrs. Esther Hudders conducted a private school 
for years in the basement of the Bridge street Presby- 
terian Church. She and her husband were the first 
teachers in the Bridge street school, and they taught 
there three years. 

Teachers — The early teachers, as I recall them, 
were the following, with the time of service : 

Margaret Meeker 1845; from Allentown, 

D. F. Davis 1846; from Easton. 

Edward Clarke 1847 . from Wyoming Co., P.i. 

John Hudders 1848 t^ 1852; from Irish Settlement. 

Esther Hudders 1848 to 1852; from Irish Settlement. 

Joseph Leonard 1853 ; from Connecticut. 

Rebecca Leonard (sister of Joseph) 1854; from Connecticut. 

Annie E. Butchers 1854-55; from N. Y. State. 

Charles L. Russell 1855-56; from Bridgeport, Conn. 

Samuel P. Bliss 1856; from Connecticut. 

Charles H. Kitchell 1857; from N. Y. State. 

Alonso W. Kinsey 1857; from Catasauqua. 

In the year 1858, the teachers were : Charles L. 
Russell, grammar school ; Alonzo W. Kinsey and Wil- 
liam H. Barton, secondary ; Eliza McKee and Anna 
Phillips, primary. 

Mr. Russell having resigned, R. Clay Hamersly be- 
came his successor; then his school was regraded and 
classified; the advanced pupils were formed into a 
High-school which Avas assigned to Prof. Hamersly. 
The High-school came to be regularly established as a 
part of the system in 1863, with Prof. Hamersly as 
the teacher. 

Pupils — The attendance of the pupils was regis- 
tered as follows: — 

1858 300 1861 408 

1859 325 1862 450 

1860 365 1863 474 



EARLY SCHOOLS 91 

Sessions — The early custom was to continue the 
sessions of school from four to six months, but the 
founder of the town did not think it was right to 
allow the sons of his workingmen to run around the 
streets; so he erected a long frame building at the 
corner of Church street and Limestone alley and di- 
rected school to be held during the whole year without 
any vacation. 

Deily School — A teacher, by the name of Toby, 
taught for some time in the school-house on Deily 's 
Hill and his ability and success were highly appre- 
ciated, but like other good teachers, he (juit for want 
of proper compensation. He was followed by a 
teacher who had the remarkable name of William 
Henry Harrison Barton, but he also quit because the 
salary was too small. Besides leaving his great name, 
he left an incident which is worth preserving in con- 
nection with our schools. 

Barton, finding his salary too small, resorted to 
writing stories for the newspapers, among them the 
Allentown Democrat, whose enterprising and sympa- 
thetic publisher engaged him to write a certain story 
and promised to pay him $5 for it after the first chap- 
ter was published. The first chapter appeared and 
proved interesting, but the $5 did not appear. Not 
discouraged, the hopeful author supplied the second 
chapter, ])ut the money not then appearing, he 
hesitated. 

This led the publisher to urge him to finish the 
story, which showed the publisher's interest. The 
third chapter was supplied, but the author left the 
hero of his story in an awkward position. It seems 
that the hero was about to be married and on his way 
to the church was intercepted by a swollen stream. 
A large tree fortunately stood on the edge of the bank 
and one of its lower branches reached to the other 
side ; and the emergency being great, the hero climbed 
the tree and cautiously worked his way out on this 



92 EARLY HISTORY 

branch, which treinl)led inider his weight and swayed 
to and fro. Suddenly, his foot slipped, and in falling 
he was caught by the seat of his trousers, where the 
wary author left his trembling hero, and sent word 
to his anxious publisher that he proposed to let him 
there until he received his $5. 

The money was promptly paid, the concluding 
chapter of the story rescued its hero from his perilous 
situation over a raging torrent, and a happy marriage 
ensued, which delivered both reader and publisher 
from further suspense. 

Indicator — I recall a large square board which 
stands out prominently in my mincl in connection with 
the Deily School. It hung on a nail near the door. On 
one side was painted in plain letters the word IN, and 
on the other, the word OUT. This constituted one of 
the rules of the school; quiet, easily understood, but 
very expressive. 

One day, a little fellow in the centre of the room 
raised his right hand to make use of his privilege to 
retire, without first looking to see how the board was 
turned. The teacher said sternly, "Did you look at 
the board?" Undaunted, the boy, with a tremor in 
his voice, replied: "But, teacher, please, I initst go!" 
The teacher yelled : ' ' Go, but don 't you dare to sneak 
off for candy ! ' ' 

The boy retired and slammed the door after him, 
which caused the board to drop to the floor. This ex- 
cited the quick wit of an older boy, who raised his 
left hand with a loud snap of his finger to attract 
the teacher's attention, and the teacher responded 
curtly : ' ' Well, what now ? ' ' The boy said meekly, with 
a twinkle in his eye, "The board dropped and the sig- 
nal's gone." "The what's gone?" said the teacher; 
when the boy answered ' ' The light 's out. ' ' This put a 
twinkle in the teacher's eye, and he said, "Well, boy. 
you 're bright ; put up the light. ' ' 



EARLY SCHOOLS 93 

Reading Class — In reading, a class stood up and 
read in consecutive order from the head to the foot, or 
vice-versa; and so the English reader was read 
through and commenced over again and re-read. It 
was considered the proper thing when tlie end of the 
book was reached at the Latin word FINIS, for the 
last pupil in the course of reading to call out loudly, 
''Five Irish Niggers in Spain," and the next to re- 
verse the order of the letters and call out "Six Irish 
Niggers in France," and this performance generally 
ended in a trouncing. 

Class Leaders — It was customary to choose two 
leaders of a spelling-class who were selected by the 
pupils to fill up their respective sides, and whenever 
a word was mis-spelled by a pupil in the class, he quit 
and this was continued until only one was left, who 
represented the winning side. 

Pens — Quills Avere used as pens and a part of the 
teacher's duties was to make them after school hours, 
ready for the next session. I remember the day the 
first steel pens were introduced. They were imported 
from England and called "Jos. Gillotte Pens," 
which were sold to the pupils two for three cents. 
All school supplies then, even the ink, were sold to 
the pupils. 

Teachers' Pay — The teachery's pay, $1.0614, was 
brought by the pupils every three months and this 
was generally paid in Mexican money. Spanish 
shillings were called ' ' levys ; ' ' and sixpences or half- 
shillings were called "fips" (614 cents.) 

Punishment — Corporal punishment in the schools 
was almost universal. Solomon's admonition "spare 
the rod and spoil the child ' ' was considered the proper 
doctrine. Long whips, cut from the stumps of trees 
after the woods had been removed, were the proper 
caper. It was considered good practice to send a pupil 
out into the yard to cut them and bring them into the 



94 EARLY HISTORY 

school-room, then give him a good whipping to l)i'eak 
his spirits and so develop obedience. 

Rulers were thrown at scholars for whispering, 
who were directed to bring them to the teacher, then 
hold out their little hands to the teacher who slapped 
them until the offenders wriggled with pain. 

Pupils Avho failed to understand their sums in Men- 
suration were compelled to stand on a desk and hold 
a brick in one hand and count the corners of the 
Bridge street Presbyterian Church. This was before 
the parsonage was erected. 

Some of the teachers in those days were barbarous 
in their treatment of the pupils. They would sneak 
behind the pupil who had made a mistake in his sums 
and yank him from his seat by pulling him l)y the ear, 
or take a book and bang him on the side of the head. 
I remember one teacher who called up his pupils and 
slapped them on their hands with a black ruler (which 
was supposed to be more painful than a white one), 
meanwhile chewing tobacco vigorously and expector- 
ating into a large spittoon five feet off. 

Another cruel feature of those days was this : When 
a class was called up to recite or spell, the pupil who 
missed had to go to the foot of the class, and, at the 
close of the lesson, tell the teacher how many mistakes 
were made, and so many times would the teacher 
slap the palm of the hand hard with a black ruler. 
Oh, how those slaps would sting! The burning sen 
sation would continue for hours. 

Town-Ball — Among the games for the boys was 
one called town-ball. Self-appointed leaders divided 
the boys into two contesting parties or sides by select- 
ing one at a time alternately until the number present 
was exhausted ; and that leader started the selection 
by winning the toss of the bat, "wet" or "dry," 
either having spat on one side and tossed it into the 
air, then the other would have to guess, and if the lat- 



PUBLIC LIBRARY 95 

ter got his guess he would take his side to the bat, 
and the other his side to the field. 

The bat was a heavy paddle, uot a round stick as 
now. The ball was not a purchased article; it was 
generally made by some boy out of his woolen socks 
which were unravelled and the yarn was wound 
around some rubber strips cut from an old gum-shoe, 
or around a small piece of cork, and sewed in a leather 
cover. 

There were four corners, like the points of a sijuare 
figure ; sometimes five corners, an extra one between 
the second and third, making the points of a pentagon. 
If the batter struck at the ball and missed it and the 
catcher caught it he was out; but if he hit it he had 
to run and make his base. If the ball was caught on 
the fly or even one bound he was out. All the players 
had to be made out; then the side would select its 
best batter to bat and if he succeeded in making three 
' ' home-runs, ' ' his side could start anew ; otherwise the 
fielders would take their turn at the bat. 

The score of runs was frequently very high in the 
game. It was kept by cutting notches in a stick or hy 
tallies of five. 

If the ball should be lost in the grass, the fielders 
would cry "lost-ball," and the play was suspended 
until the ball was found. 

A runner at or around the bases, hit by a thrown 
or batted ball, was regarded as out. The ball was not 
hard ; frequently, it was a hollow, flexible ' ' Goodyear ' ' 
ball, which was preferred. 

PUBLIC LIBRARIES— In 1846, The Crane Iron 
Co. started a library of 250 books for the use and im- 
provement of their employees. A room was set apart 
on the second floor of the old two-story brick office 
building on Front street opposite the furnaces for this 
purpose and it was kept up for nine years. This is 
another evidence of Mr. Thomas' desire to develop 
and maintain a high standard in the community. 



96 EARLY HISTORY 

About 1878, Oliver Williams, another prominent 
man here in the industrial affairs of the Lehigh Val- 
ley, took an active part with other persons in estal)- 
lishing a library. Several hundred volumes of pro- 
miscuous books were collected and a successful read- 
ing-circle amongst the young people w^as kept up until 
May 1891, when the books were presented to the Higli- 
school and added to its collection. The room was in a 
building on Church street, west of the Town-Hall, 
where a cigar store is now conducted. 

BRASS BAND— About 1845, a band of music was 
organized in the village with John Thomas as leader 
and the last survivor was Samuel Thomas. It contin 
ued until 1854, when Samuel Thomas and other prin- 
cipal players removed to Hokendauqua. The instru- 
ments were made of brass, some of which were very 
large and attracted much attention not only on ac- 
count of their size but of the great volume of tone pro- 
duced by the strong-winded players. The slide- 
trombonists were placed in the front rank, and 
in their sliding movements reached out so far at times 
that the little boys, who walked along in a listless, 
wondering manner, would be shocked with a bump 
head- foremost if they didn 't keep their distance'. 

TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES— David Thomas was 
particularly solicitous of establishing the practice of 
temperance in the growing community and encour- 
aged his workmen to sustain his efforts in this behalf. 
Two lodges were organized, one for adults called the 
George Crane Division, and the other for boys, called 
the Crystal Fount Section, No. 2. The members up- 
held the movement in an active manner for twelve 
years until 1857. It may be remarked that the young 
men who became identified with this beneficent cause 
kept clear of the baneful influence of licjuor in their 
later years. 

POLITICAL ANIMOSITY— As elsewhere, polit- 
ical animosity manifested itself in this vicinity in var- 



POLITICAL ANIMOSITY 97 

ious ways on different occasions. I submit three in- 
stances of the many that might be given. 

Spiked Cannon — The Allentoivn Democrat, in No- 
vember, 1844, contained the following item relating 
what the Whigs had done to the Democrats right 
after the State election which resulted in their defeat 
at the polls: — "The Democrats found their cannon 
spiked when about to fire it off on Saturday afternoon 
in honor of their late victory. This shows to what 
means the 'coons' will descend to get revenge. We 
would caution our friends to be on the look-out, for 
we would not trust them in our hen-coop. ' ' 

Salt River Parade — But the Democrats could also 
show feeling against the Whigs in 1858. The fight dur- 
ing the campaign and at the polls was bitter, and 
being successful as a matter of course, they had to 
ridicule the foe by taking them up "Salt River." 
Those at Catasautpia therefore got up a badge and 
distributed it throughout the community for the 
amusement of the participants in the political jollifi- 
caion ; which made the anouncement of the proposed 
excursion in the following interesting manner, even 
if it was sarcastic : — 

BOUND FOR LECOMPTON RETREAT 
at the head of 

free trade river. 

The slow soiithorn steamer Old Buck will leave for Lecomptou Re- 
treat at the head of Free Trade River from Biery's-Port on Monday 
morning next, October 25th, at sunrise : — 

Commander and Dictator Bill Biery 

First Mate Old Sol 

Second Mate Wash Bogh 

Steward • • .Charley Beck 

Clerk Al Woolever 

Engineer Jake Bogh 

Fireman ■ '■ ■ .Jack Heinle) 

Cook Jake Kester 

Bar-keeper Ike Miller 

Purser Joe Laubaeh 



98 EARLY HISTORY 

Pilot I . Gross 

Barber Lew Bogh 

Physician Josh Siegfried 

General Ticket Agent Jim Schall 

Boot-black and watchnian Joe Lazarus 

A colony is to be established at the head of Free Trade River where 
the worshippers of Old Buck can worship him at their heart's content 
and where all wlio are willing to bow the knee and submit to his 
Leeompton Test are invited to settle — with the understanding however 
that no settlers will be allowed to advocate Home Protection or be 
unwilling to labor for 10 cents a day. 

It is vinderstood that the small great men of the Old Keystone, in- 
cluding the Joneses, the Biglers, the Dewarts, the Landys, the Phillipses, 
and tlie Leidys have already gone in advance. 

The steerage will be reserved for the small-fry politicians in AUentown 
who subscribe to Leeompton. 

For further information inquire of A. S. S. Bridges, AUentown, and 
at the post ofifice at Biery's-Port, just below Catasauqua. 
Doylestown, Oct. 20, 1858. 

Federalist Denounced — Thomas Barr, a resident 
of Allen township, represented Northampton county 
in the State Legislature in the year 1852-53, and 
he was elected as a Federalist or Whig. His actions 
at Harrisburg excited the ire of the AUentown Demo- 
crat, which was led to criticise him in the following 
manner : — 

The citizens of the county (Lehigh) are now witnessing, if they have 
not been made to feel, the evil consequences resulting from the election 
of Federalists to the Legislature by our sister Northampton ; and the 
Democracy of the latter county have the very questionable gratification 
of knowing that her representatives are laboring zealously to prostrate 
the best interests of a neighboring constituency. 

With true Federal instinct, her representatives cling to and support 
monopolies, just as naturally as a "nigger takes to a banjo" — vide 
Mr. Barr's course in the matter of the Catasauqua & Fogelsville R. R. 
He seizes every opportunity to bring it up in the House. Scarcely a 
bill is read but he springs up with an amendment to strike out all 
after the enacting clauses and insert a bill to authorize the Lehigh 
Crane Iron Co. to build a railroad to their ore mine, lease quarries, 
etc. A more iniquitous proposition, ^ve venture to say, has rarely 
been introduced into our Legislature. Without regard to private 
rights, and for the benefit only of a mammoth iron company, the 
Legislature is asked to cut up the farms of a rich agricultural region 
that this company may enjoy a .still greater monopoly of the iron 
business. 



MEXICAN WAR 99 

We cannot believe that the Legislature will inflict such injustice upon 
the other furnaces along the Lehigh, or upon those whose property 
it is proposed thus to cut up and sacrifice. We cannot believe that 
justice has yet flown from our Legislative halls, and hence we cannot 
believe that a project more iniquitous than the famous Gettysburg 
Railroad will be fastened upon a portion of our citizens. 

A charter was nevertheless secured in 1854, and 
the railroad was found a great benefit to the townships 
through which it was constructed, in that it relieved 
many miles of the public roads from the hard and in- 
jurious travel by the numerous ore teams in trans- 
porting many thousads of tons of iron ore from the 
mines of the Crane Iron Co. to its large and prosper- 
ous works in Catasauqua. These roads Were rendered 
almost impassable during the wet seasons before the 
construction of this railroad, for upwards of ten 
years, and the persons mostly affected were the ad- 
joining farmers, though many of them received large 
royalties and benefits far beyond what they otherwise 
might have realized from cultivating the land. 

The first efforts in this behalf had been made by 
securing an Act of Assembly, dated April 5, 1853, 
which authorized the following commissioners to es- 
tablish and maintain the Catasauqua and Fogelsville 
Plank Road, and the Lehigh Crane Iron Co. to sub- 
scribe for stock : 

Jacob Dillinger Owen Rice 

Samuel Sieger Jonas Biery 

Aaron Guth Phaon Albright 

David Thomas James W. Fuller 

Charles W. Cooper 

Finding that the plank-road was an impracticable 
enterprise, an Act was passed April 20, 1854, author- 
izing this company to construct and maintain a rail- 
road instead of a plank-road. 

MEXICAN WAR— During the Mexican War, two 
men enlisted from here: Levi Kraft (a tinsmith who 
worked for C. G. Schneller), and Horatio Good (who 
lived up the river). They went to Mauch Chunk and 



100 EARLY HISTORY 

there joined their coiupaiiy ; then to Wilkes-Barre, and 
by canal to Harrisburg, thence to Pittsburg, thence 
by river steamer to New Orleans. Both of these lived 
to come back, wearing their peculiar uniforms of the 
army at that time, with caps like a coal skuttle, 
decorated with metal chains. Kraft afterwards served 
three years (1861-64) in the 47th P. V. Reg. and died 
a few years ago at Dayton's Soldiers' Home. Good 
went overland to California and was killed by the 
Indians. 

Several enlisted men from Allentown returned 
from Mexico at the same time ; but one, John Kuhn, 
Avas missing. A year afterward, he returned but the 
cruelties of a Mexican prison had made him insane. 
His home thereafter was in the Lehigh county poor- 
house. Every year for 25 years, in his Summer vaca- 
tions, he visited Catasauqua in his old uniform, hat 
bedecked with flowers and a cavalry sword hung at his 
side, clanking on the pavement ; and to the time of his 
death he was known only as "Mexico John." No one 
would think of molesting him in any way ; the people 
showed respect for him, and encouraged him in his 
innocent amusement. 

INCORPORATION— Application was made to the 
Court of Quarter Sessions of Lehigh County on April 
3, 1851, for the incorporation of Catasauqua into a 
Borough. The decree of the Court was made Feb. 1, 
1853, which provided as follows : 

That the village of Catasauqua, and the territory in and around the 
same as comprised within the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning 
at a point in the River Lehigh at low water mark, thence through land 
of Paul Faust, on the line dividing the said county of Lehigh from the 
county of Northampton, to the public road leading from bridge to 
Howertown, thence down the said road in the middle thereof, to a 
stone corner between lands of George Breinig and Henry Kurtz, thence 
on the line between the said lands of the said Breinig and Kurtz to 
Catasauqua creek, thence down said creek the several courses and 
distances thereof to its junction with the River Lehigh, thenec up the 
said River Lehigh, the several courses and distances thereof at low 
water mark to the place of beginning, be and the same is hereby de- 



INCORPORATION 101 

clared a body corpurato in law, under and subject to the provisions, 
requirements and enactments of the Act of Assembly, entitled, "An 
Act regulating boroughs," approved April 3, 1851, to be known and 
designated in law and otherwise as the borough of Catasauqua, and 
shall constitute a separate Election and School District, subject to all 
the laws now in force regulating such districts. The election for bor- 
ough officers is hereby directed to be held on the third Friday of 
March annually, at the public house now in the occupancy of Charles 
Nolf, until removed therefrom according to law. 

While the town was being incorporated there were 
many signs of activity and immediately afterward the 
Town-Council proceeded energetically with grading 
the streets and smoothing off the rough places prepara- 
tory to paving. New buildings were going up, among 
them the three-story brick hotel of Solomon Biery, 
fronting on two streets near the old stand; the hotel, 
store and dwelling of William Gross on the opposite 
corner, he having secured a license at the last Court; 
and a bridge over the Lehigh river on the site of the 
old chain bridge. The Crane Iron Works were in full 
blast with five furnace stacks in constant operation. 

First Officials — -Election officers were appointed 
who were directed to conduct the election ' ' which shall 
be opened only to citizens legally entitled to vote Avho 
reside within the territory mentioned" in the decree. 
The first officials elected were the following : 

Chief Bur (jess — David Thomas. 

Town Council — .Jesse Knauss, William Biery, Joshua Hunt, Jr., 

Joseph Laubach, John Clark. 
Street Commiisioners — Morgan Emanuel, Jonas Biery. 
Hiffh Constable — Charles Siegley. 
Auditor — John Williams. 
Judge — Isaac E. Chandler. 

Inspectors — David G. Jones, Augustus H. Gilbert. 
Assessor — Levi Haas. 
School Directors — James Ginder, Owen Rice, Charles Nolf, Charles 

G. Schneller, George W. Klotz, James Wilson. 
Justice of the Peace — John Hudders. 
Constable — Joseph Lazarus. 

Name — Catasaucjua is a compound word meaning 
"dry-ground" in the dialect of the Lenni-Lenape 



102 EARLY HISTORY 

tribe of Indians who first inhabited this section of 
country. 

" Catasauqua" means the earth is thirsty; and 
" Gattoshaci," wants rain, which indicated in their 
language that the vegetation hereabouts suffered for 
want of rain. The creek, which empties into the Le- 
high river at the south end of the borough, was there- 
fore called by this name. On some of the earliest 
maps of the land hereabouts it was called Catasauqua; 
and on others. Mill-creek, because a mill had been 
erected along its head-waters by Thomas Wilson in 
1735. 

The Irish settlers recognized this parched condi- 
tion of the ground and absence of vegetation between 
the river and Shoenersville, and therefore avoided 
the locality. This peculiarity still prevails. 

Hanover Township — Hanover township was es- 
tablished Aug. 15, 1798, out of the southern section of 
Allen township, and was a part of Northampton coun- 
ty until the erection of Lehigh county in 1812, and the 
county line, as then established, extended from a point 
on the east bank of the Lehigh river, opposite the out- 
let of Coplay creek, almost at right angles with the 
river, along the northerly line of Hanover township, 
and included the western half of the township ; and 
the site of the village of Biery's-Port occupied the 
N. W. corner of it. Doubtless its location led the 
active persons, interested in the erection of the new 
county, to establish the line so as to include the vil- 
lage, in order to give its inhabitants and property - 
holders convenient communication with the county- 
seat at Allentown. 

First Taxables — The population increased rapidly 
from the founding of the town, and in 1853 the follow- 
ing persons owned property here : — 

Daniel Davis 
George Andrew, tailor Reuben Dilgard 

John Albright George Deily 



INCORPORATION 



103 



Nathan Andreas 

William Biery, carpenter 

Solomon Biery 

Joseph Brown, tailor 

John Boyer 

Hugh Bratton, laborer 

Jonas Biery 

Daniel Biery 

Jacob Beil 

Aaron Bast, carpenter 

John Brobst 

William Bayard 

Charles Becker, minister 

Washburn Bough, boat-builder 

Lewis Bough 

Lucinda Biers 

Stephen Biers 

David Beidelman, weaver 

Christi ,n Bough 

Amos Buchmier, tailor 

John Clark 

Samuel Colver 

William Cramsey 

Jacob Christ 

Charles Deiler 

Noah Davis 

Joshua Hunt 

William Jones 

John James 

David D. Jones 

Aaron Koch 

Owen Kuntz, blacksmith 

Jesse Knauss, liveryman 

Widow Kreider 

John Koons, blacksmith 

Anthony Knapp, mason 

William Kratzer 

Reuben Kratzer 

Henry Kurtz 

Samuel Koehler 

James Kerr 

A. Kromer 

Joseph Lichtenwallner 

James Lackey, merchant 

Widow Leibert 

Joseph Laubach, innkeeper 

S. H. Laciar, tinsmith 



Jacob Deily, wheelwright 
Fred. Eberhard, contractor 
Morgan Emanuel 
Samuel Evans 
John Evans 
Philip Fenstemacher 
Paul Faust 

James W. Puller, contractor 
Nathan Frederick, innkeeper. 
Thomas Frederick, merchant 
Jacob F. Fogel 
Reuben Fenstemacher 
Henry Fenstemacher 
Nathan Fegley 
George Foehler 

Owen Frederick, cabinet-maker 
William Pegley, carpenter 
Augustus Gilbert 
Henry Goetz 

James Ginder, boat-builder 
William Gress, merchant and inn- 
keeper 
Peter Hinely 
Levi Haas 

Henry Hock, saddler 
John Hock 
Frederick W. Nagle 
Samuel L. Nevens 
Samuel Old 

Reuben Patterson, shoemaker 
Jacob Rutliman, mason 
William Romig 
Charles W. Rau, saddler 
John Roth 
Samuel Romick 
Patrick Roney 
Jacob Leem, shoemaker 
Simon Sterner, machinist 
Jonathan Snyder 
Charles G. Schneider, mason 
Charles Sigley 
William Stillwagon 
Nicholas Snyder 
Samuel Still 
Owen Swartz 
Solomon Swab 
James Snyder. 



104 



EARLY HISTORY 



John Laubacli 

Laciai- & Co., mercliants 

Jonas Lilly 

Robert Mclntyre, contractor 

Widow McAllister 

John Mclntyre 

Peter Morey 

Jacob Miller 

William McLelland 

William Miller, merchant 

William Minnick 

John Machette 

William McLelland (3d) 

William Neighley, carpenter 

James Nevens 

David Neighlev 



Peter Shockler 

George Snyder 

Joseph Troxell, shoemaker 

David A. Tombler 

David Thomas 

David Thomas, Jr. 

John Thomas 

Samuel Thomas 

Maria Troxell 

Witlow Wyman 

David Williams 

E. P. Weiss, merchant 

Enos Weaver 

John Wilson 

Henry Youndt 

Enoch Youndt 



Among the tenants at this time were Moses E. Al- 
bright and William Steckel, merchants ; Henry Bush 
and Charles Nolf , innkeepers ; Benjamin Bush, miller ; 
William Tice, carpenter ; Cornelius Earle, minister : 
and Franklin Martin, physician. 

In consequence of necessary grading and at heavy 
excavations in streets, and the building of a lock-up, 
the debt of the borough at the end of the first fiscal 
year amounted to $3,200 ; and in consequence of pay- 
ing land damages for the opening of streets, interest, 
and further grading, the debt on the 1st of April, 
1855, amounted to $4,000. On the 1st of April, 1863, 
it was $5,000, and from that time forward for a num- 
ber of years the receipts were not sufficient to pay the 
interest and current expenses, leaving an annual de- 
ficit. The expense of building the town hall and pur- 
chasing fire apparatus, etc., amounted to $22,000 ; and 
there being an tiverage annual deficit of $700, the debt 
was found in April, 1874, to be $36,609. The tax- 
levy had never amounted to more thrin $3,;500 prior to 
1874, but in that year the triennial assessment showed 
a valuation of more than double the previous assess- 
ments, and thus met a long- felt want, increasing the 
tax-levy so as to pay current expenses. 



INCORPORATION 105 

The town hall was built in 1868, by Fuller & Graf- 
fin, whose proposal therefor was $11,500, but the ulti- 
mate cost was $14,000, a number of changes from the 
original plan being made. The low^er floor is occupied 
by the Phoenix Fire Co. The second floor has been 
altered for a Council Chamber, and office of the tax 
and water departments. 

Borough Extended — The borough was extended 
in 1895 by annexing a part of Hanover township 
which lay to the north and east, and was described in 
the proceedings as follows : — 

Beginning at a point in the center of the Catasauqua creek which is 
in the present boundary line of the borough; thence along said line 
north 88 degrees and 42 minutes west 192 feet, more or less, to a 
stone, and south 59 degrees and 28 minutes west 1084 feet and 6 
inches to an iron pipe, in the center of Howertown Road ; thence along 
said line and the center of said Howertown Road north 50 degrees 
and 13 minutes west, 464 feet and 4 inches to an iron pipe in the 
centre of said Howertown Road, said iron pipe being also in the line 
dividing Lehigh county and Northampton county ; thence along said 
county line north 70 degrees and 12 minutes east 1412 feet, more or 
less, to a point in the said Catasauqua ■ creek; and thence down said 
creek, the several courses and distances thereof to the place of be- 
ginning. 

Wards Established— The petition of 49 citizens of 
the borough was presented to the Court on April 11, 
1876, praying for a division of the borough into two 
wards for the purpose of facilitating elections and of 
securing a fair representation for each section in the 
Council and School Board. The Court appointed Eli 
J. Saeger, J. F. Newhard and W. B. Powell as com- 
missioners, who viewed and considered the premises, 
and recommended a division of the borough into two 
wards as prayed for. The Court confirmed their re-^ 
port, and on Jan. 19, 1877, filed a decree, dividing 
the borough into two wards, named respectively First 
Ward and Second Ward, and giving the boundaries of 
each. 

In 1909, an application was made to extend the 
borough limits on the east, so as to embrace what was 



106 EARLY HISTORY 

commonly known as East CatasaiKjua, containing 435 
acres ; and after due proceedings the decree of annex- 
ation was made Oct. 3, 1909, and the territory was 
constituted the 3rd Ward. The commissioners were 
William Weisley, John 11. Tait and James T. Davis. 

In 1911, the 2nd Ward was divided into two parts, 
and the eastern part was constituted the 4th Ward. 
The commissioners were H. W. Hankee, Harvey H. 
Knerr and Samuel Heilman. 

Line Adjusted — The northerly line of the borough 
was fixed on the northerly line of Hanover town- 
ship in Lehigh county, which was also the southerly 
line of Allen township in Northampton county ; and 
this borough line also became the southerly line of the 
borough of North Catasauciua. 

This line was in dispute for many years, and as a 
consequence many taxpayers and voters were in doubt 
as to where they lived. Therefore commissioners were 
appointed by the Court of Quarter Sessions of Le- 
high county, and they filed their report but it w^as set 
aside on January 6, 1889. 

Subsequently, another set of commissioners was ap- 
pointed by the joint action of Lehigh and Northamp- 
ton counties, and after giving the matter a thorough 
investigation they esablished the line according to the 
evidence secured and submitted their report to both 
Courts, which was confirmed and so this long-stand- 
ing controversy was settled. Their report was as 
follows : — 

Maj. Samuel D. Lehr of AUentown, Birge Pear.son of Easton and 
Thomas S. McNair of Hazleton were appointed as commissioners 
to locate the correct boundary line between Lehigh and Northampton 
counties north and east of Catasauqua over which there has been a 
dispute for many years. They set about their difficult task in a proper 
way, examining old records, maps and reports, hearing testimony and 
taking measurements in this behalf, and then located the line; and 
they reported their proceedings in this behalf, accompanied by three 
charts which show the line along the east end of Hanover township, 
the line on the nortli side of Hanover township and Catasauqua, and 



BANKS 107 

also the line in an enlarged form tlirough Catasauqua to indicate how 
individual properties are cut through. 

Allen township in Northampton count}' was erected in 1797 from a 
point in the Lehigh river to the road leading from Hanoverville to 
Bath, on lands of John Fogel, now Daniel Fogel, where the Monocacy 
creek crosses the road; which point the commissioners established by 
an alifidavit of Daniel Fogel, who is now 85 years of age. 

When Ijehigh county was taken from Northampton county in 1812, 
the county line was extended from the intersection of Monocacy 
creek and the Lehigh river along the creek to the public road to the 
Lehigh Gap, which it follows to a point in said Allen township line. 
This road was changed since 1812 and the commissioners had to secure 
the old location and follow it to the old line on the crest of Rocky Hill, 
which is the northeastern corner of Hanover township. 

The old Allen township line was not run since 1798. Its western 
end was designated as a point 20 perches south of Faust's Ferry. By 
the aiifidavits of Reuben Faust of Catasauqua and Benjamin B. 
Burger of Allentown, the commissioners fixed upon this point at a 
buttonwood tree on the east bank of the Lehigh river. These two were 
easily fixed upon the site of the ferry, and there the commissioners found 
timbers along the bank showing that a boat landing had been located 
there. 

Having determined these points at Fogel's and at Catasauqua, the 
commissioners ran a bee line between the two and that line from 
Rocky Hill to the river as the new boundary line. It cuts diagonally 
through Mr. Faust's property at Catasauqua and cuts off a small corner 
of the Bryden Horse Shoe Works property ; thence it passes north of 
Theordore Bachman's house and touches the bay-window of Daniel 
Milson's house; it crosses Adam Rau's premises so as to ciit it into 
two equal triangles; and it also cuts off a foot and a half of a corner 
of the Stand-Pipe. 

BANKS — There are two banks in the borough, the 
National Bank of Catasauqua and the Lehigh National 
Bank of Catasauqua. 

National Bank of Catasauqua — The first banking 
institution was established Sept. 9, 1857, as a "'State 
Bank" with a charter from the State of Pennsyl- 
vania by an Act of Assembly passed May 5, 1857, 
and an auhorized capital of $100,000 ; and its first 
officers and directors were : — 

Eli J. Saeger, president. 
David Thomas William Miller 

John S. Hoffman Jonas Biery 



108 EARLY HISTORY 

Charles A. Luckenbach Jonas Biery 

Jacob P. Scholl James W. Fuller 

David A. Tombler Robert Oberly 

Joshua Hunt Samuel Laubach 

Jacob Fatzinger, Sr. 

Melchoir H. Horn, cashiei'. 

John O. Lichtenwallner, teller. 

James W. Mit-kley, clerk. 

Its first place of business was in the residence of 
Thomas Frederick on lower Front street in a room 
which is now used as a barber shop. The Lackey two- 
stoiy brick-building on Front street, No. 139, was 
then secured, remodeled and made suitable for bank- 
ing purposes, and in 1858 the bank was removed to it; 
and in that locality it continued in active operation 
with increasing success until 1903. In 1867, a sub- 
stantial three-story brick building embracing a bank 
and cashier's residence was erected on the old founda- 
tion, with superior improvements to meet the demands 
of its business. 

In 1865, it was converted into a National bank. 
The charter was extended in 1885 for 20 years; and 
re-extended in 1905 for 20 years more. 

In 1903, the bank was removed to its present local- 
ity at Bridge and 2nd streets, in a substantial and 
stately stone building with a modern equipment for 
security against fire and burglary. It may be men- 
tioned that the site was offered in 1858 free of cost to 
the bank by David Thomas, which was declined ; but 
in 1903, when purchased, the price was $13,000. 

The first statement of the ])ank, Jan. 5, 1858, was as 
follows : — 

Resources. Liabilities. 

Notes $ 89,225 Capital Stock $100,000 

Cash, etc 146,078 Surplus 690 

Property 1,433 Circulation 129,000 

Deposits 7,046 

$236,736 $236,736 



BANKS 109 

111 1865, when it became a National bank, its finan- 
cial situation was as follows : — 

Resources. Liabilities. 

Notes $361,105 Capital Stock $180,600 

Bonds 118,500 Surplus, etc 42,177 

Cash 196,051 State Bank Notes still out 

Due from Banks . 23,634 standing 348,532 

Bank ^,100 Deposits 116,907 

Due to Banks 19,174 



$707,390 $707,390 

The annual dividends since its organization have 
been something over seven per cent. 

In November, 1913, its situation was as follows : — 

Resources. Liabilities. 

Loans $1,070,050 Stock $ 400,000 

Bonds 809,590 Surplus, etc 380,401 

Bank, etc 70,000 Circulation 197,498 

Cash, etc 284,639 Deposits 1,256,380 



$2,234,279 $2,234,279 

Directors and Officers, 1914 

Rowland T. Davies George B. Mauser 

G. B. F. Deily Lucius H. McHose 

D. George Dery Leonard Peckitt 

J. S. Elverson Dr. H. H. Riegel 

Charles C. Kaiser Harry J. Seaman 

Charles E. Lawall Edwin Thomas 

Charles N. Ulrich 

Edwin Thomas, president Frank M. Horn, cashier 

Dr. H. H. Riegel, vice president H. V. Swartz, ass't. cashier 



OFFICERS. 
Presidents Cashiers. 

Eli J. Saeger 1857-88 Melchior H. Horn 1857-88 

Melchior H. Horn 1888-90 Frank M. Horn 1888-90 

Frank M. Horn 1890-99 Charles R. Horn 1890-99 

Owen F. Fatzinger 1899-1904 Frank M. Horn 1899-1914 
Edwin Thomas 1904-14 

Lehigh National Bank — The second banking in- 
stitution at Catasauqua, was organized in July, 1906, 



110 EARLY HISTORY 

with a capital of $125,000, and the first Board of Di- 
rectors was constituted as follows : — 

James C. Beitel James W. Peters 

Dr. A. J. Becker B. Frank Swartz 

H. A. Benner James J. Seyfried 

George H. Dilcher Charles W. Schneller 

Wm. F. Fenstermacher Oscar J. Stine 

William H. Glace A. H. Snyder 

Herman Kostenbader Kufus M. Wint 

P. J. Laubach Thomas Sehadt 

Frank B. Mauser Dr. Daniel Yoder 

Mr. Glace, a resident attorney-at-law, of large 
practice and business experience, was selected as 
president; Mr. Beitel, as vice president, and J. F. 
Moyer as cashier. All the stock was taken by resi- 
dents of Catasauqua and the vicinity. 

The property on the S. E. corner of Front and 
Bridge streets (which extended to Railroad alley, 45 
by 198 feet), was purchased from the estate of James 
W. Swartz, deceased, and steps were taken to erect a 
proper bank building for business. 

Temporary quarters were established on the prem- 
ises of Mr. Glace at 423 Front street, and actual busi- 
ness was started on Aug. 1st; and the first financial 
statement on Sept. 4th was as follows : — 

Resources. LinhilUicn. 

Loans $168,371 Cnp;t:il Stock .$97,580 

Bonds 36,247 Surplus, etc 3,218 

Cash, etc 69,120 Circulation 35,000 

Bank, etc 2,934 Deposits 140,874 



$276,672 $276,672 

During the year 1907-08 an attractive bank build- 
ing was erected with the most approved equipment 
for banking purposes, with assurance of protection 
against loss from fire or burglary. It is two-story, 
built of terra cotta ; the first floor commodious and 
convenient of access, is occupied by the bank, and 
the second floor is set apart for offices. 

The management of its affairs during the first 
year showed a large increase of deposits, evidencing 



JUSTICES OF THE PEACE 111 

that this second l)aiik had won the support and prac- 
tical encouragement of the community. 

The last financial statement in November, 1913, 
was as follows : — 

Resources. Liabilities. 

Loans $354,078 Stock $125,000 

Bonds 275,701 Surphis, etc 63,576 

Bank 33,000 Circulation 35,000 

Cash, etc 97,943 Deposits 537,146 



$760,722 $760,722 

OFFICERS. 
Presidents. Cashier. 

William H. Glace 1906-08 Jonas P. Mover 1906-14 

James C. Beitel 1908-14 

The Board has continued the same with the exception that Mr. 
Glace and Mr. Schadt resigned. Mr. Swartz died, and Mr. Kosten- 
bader also died and his son August was elected his successor. 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE— The following Jus- 
tice of the Peace served in the borough from the time 
of its incorporation : — 

George Frederick 1853-55 John Hudders 1853-58 

Chauncey D. Fuller 1855-05 George Frederick 1858-63 

Joseph Hunter 1865-70 John H. Nolf 1863-65 

William H. Glace 1870-75 R. Clay Hamersly 1865-95 

Abraham F. Koons 1875-98 Charles Graffin 1895-1900 

Edwin C. Koons 1898-1914 F. Joseph Wehrle 1900-05 

George H. Richter 1905-10 
C. F. Roth 1906-14 



Upon the subdivision of the borough into two wards 
in 1877, it was contended that each ward became en- 
titled to two incumbents, and two extra continued to 
be elected and to officiate without protest for upwards 
of twenty years, when they discontinued because the 
Secretary of the Commonwealth decided that no more 
than two Justices would be commissioned in a borough 



112 EARLY HISTORY 

regardless of the number of wards. The extra incum- 
bents were : — 

James Courtney 1878-83 Edwin Gilbert 1878^79 

Abraham N. Ulrich 1883-1910 W.lham J. Craig 18/9-84 

Edward D. Boyer 1884-89 
Jacob Van Buskirk 1889-91 
James Tait, Jr. 1891-96 
Thomas Jones 1896-1906 

BURGESSES— The following list comprises the 
names of the burgesses since the incorporation o± the 
borough, and the terms of service :— 

David Thomas 1853 Henry Davis 1878-80 

John Boyer 1854 Philip S^«-"J^.1««^-'^^ „,, ,„ 

Uriah Brunner 1855 Robert E-W. hams 1885^87 

David Thomas 1856-57 John W. Hopkins 1888-89 

William Goetz 1858-59 Thomas Jones 1890-91 

A. C. Lewis 1860 W. A. Borger 1892^93 

John Williams 1861-69 Charles R. Horn 1894-96 

James C. Beitel 1870-71 C. D. W. Bower 1897-99 

T hn Williams 1872-73 Rufus M. Wint 1900^2 

M TT Horn 1874 Henry W. Stolz 1903-05 

aeofge";owef :875 T>r. Charles J. Keim 1906.8; 1914 

William H. Glace 1876 Dr. Henry H. Riegel 1909-13 

P. W. Wint 1877 



CENSUS— The population of the borough, accord- 
ing to the U. S. enumeration, since its incorporation, 
has been as follows : — 

I860 1932 1890 3704 

1870 2853 1900 3963 

jggQ 3065 1910 ^'^''^ 




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